among the festivals celebrated by some of asian

These aren’t all technically “festivals” but are celebrated in some way. Festival Chinese Name Date; Rising Sun Festival. 元旦节 (yuán dàn jié) 1st January 2022. National Day (Golden Week) 国庆节 (guó qìng jié) / 黄景舟 (huáng jǐng zhōu) 1st October 2022 followed by six days official holiday for Golden Week. Double 11 Asian festivals (China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand) fiacajayon Asian art RodriguezArt Taiko Drum Festival Learni Escote Kabuki of Japan by Group One VIII - Acapulco (1) Rizalian Asian theater Grade 8 Music and Arts pricilla tolentino Indonesian Theater - MAPEH 8 (Music 4th Quarter) Carlo Luna Japanese Theater - MAPEH 8 (Music 4th Quarter) The Hindu festival of Thaipusam in January or February celebrates Lord Murugan, the Tamil god of war. Some devotees pierce their bodies with swords, skewers, and hooks while carrying heavy shrines (kavadis) on their bodies through long processions. Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindu Tamil communities from Southeast Asia to California. Festivals in India. Poras Chaudhary/Getty Images. Gandhi's Birthday: October 2. Republic Day: January 26. Independence Day: August 15. Holi Festival: Usually in March. Diwali/Deepavali: Between October and December. Thaipusam: In January or February. Pushkar Camel Fair: Usually in November. The following is a list of Hindu festivals. The religion of Hinduism has many festivals, including Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja. They are celebrated in South Asia and many other parts of the world with great passion and enthusuiasm. Hindu festivals File:1376881681 30dac66108 o.jpg Festival is a day of a celebration that can even go on for a certain period, mostly for religious reasons. The Importance of Celebrating Festivals. Festivals help create an environment of cultural harmony. People can forget their enmity and bond in love by celebrating festivals together. Festivals also relieve us of our monotonous life. In 2022, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, will fall on September 10 (Saturday). The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many East Asian communities People celebrate it by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating mooncakes, etc. Learn more about Mid-Autumn Festival. 7. 5. 30. · Non-religious Festival - is a festival with a group of people, community due to tradition and culture. What is the mother of all festival in the Philippines? Dubbed as the Mother of All Philippine Festivals, the Ati-Atihan Festival is widely known not just in the Philippines but across the world. 2021. 7. 25. virgerptesea1980. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Holi Chinese New Year Sapporo Snow Festival Thaipusam Diwali Tet Songkran Boryeong Mud Festival Harbin Ice Festival There's a reason why travelers love visiting new countries during a holiday and it's because festivals bring together people of all backgrounds in order to laugh, enjoy life, and share cultural experiences. While there are incredible festivals and holidays all over the world, it's our belief that Asia has everyone beat for the largest celebrations and widest variety of festivals that travelers can experience. From the Thai Lantern Festivals to India's Holi and Japan's Snow Festival, every type of traveler will find a celebration in Asia to put on their bucket list. In this article, we will break down the top 10 cultural festivals in Asia so you can start dreaming up your trip today. 1. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng—Thai Lantern Festivals Loy Krathong Nov. 28, 2023 and Yi Peng Nov. 27-28, 2023 are commonly called the Thai Lantern Festivals and both take place on the night of the full moon in November. Loy Krathong, also known as the festival of light and involves floating lanterns called krathongs. These krathongs are often made from intricately folded banana leaves and are decorated with flowers, coins, incense, and a candle placed in the center. During Loy Krathong, thousands of floating lanterns are released on waterways throughout Thailand. Releasing a floating lantern symbolizes letting go of the past and making a wish for good luck in the coming year. The best places in Thailand to celebrate this festival include Bangkok, Sukhothai, and Chiang Mai. If you visit Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong festival, you'll also be able to experience the picturesque Yi Peng, or Sky Lantern Festival. Yi Peng is a holiday of the Thai Lanna people and only takes place in northern Thailand. During the celebration, thousands of people gather to participate in the mass release of khom loi or flying lanterns. Yi Peng is one of the most picturesque festivals that a traveler can experience. positive customer reviews among 10,000+ positive customer reviews among 10,000+ I have never hear of this company… I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. 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I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! 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More Todd Atwell, Feb 2023 Family Trip to Thailand Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More Roger Pyle, Feb 2023 Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights! I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More Nancy Parker, Feb 2023 Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. 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She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More Karen Brooks, Dec 2022 Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we… I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the efforts, attention to details and immediate responses to all questions that Albee and her team provided. The Asia Highlights team deserves more stars than the maximum allowed because of continually going above and beyond all expectations. Thanks Albee for making our vacation through south east Asia absolutely perfect!!! More Michael Sharp, Dec 2022 2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival We got early bird ticket and Bella was assisting us through whatsapp. Easy, competitive price, front row tickets. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. Highly recommended. 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More Peter Bongiovanni, Nov 2022 2. Holi—India's Festival of Color Although you may not have heard of the word Holi, you've probably seen the influence of this joyous festival in some way or another. Holi Mar. 8, 2023 is India's festival of color that takes place the day after the full moon in March and is celebrated with a country-wide color fight. The activities of this festival are so fun that they've inspired international versions like the Color Run, but nothing can beat the real thing. Holi in India celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. The legend behind the holiday involves the defeat of the evil demoness Holika by Prahlad who was a follower of the Hindu god Vishnu. When the day comes, everyone dons white clothes, covers their hair, and heads out into the streets armed with colored powders and water. During the celebrations, everyone is fair game and if you join in, you can expect to be covered from head to toe in colors! Holi is celebrated primarily in India, but also in Nepal and Pakistan. In India, the best places to experience the holiday include Goa, Pushkar, Jaipur, and Udaipur where celebrations are calm and travelers can enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed. 3. Chinese New Year—Spring Festival Chinese New Year Jan. 21-27, 2023 is one of the largest celebrations to take place in Asia and is not only celebrated in China, but also by Chinese communities in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India as well. The festival often lasts 7 days and occurs in January or February depending on the lunar calendar. Celebrations include fireworks and lion dances as well as decorating everything with red, hanging paper lanterns, and having large family feasts. It is also traditional for older members of a family to give children lucky red envelopes hongbao containing money. The two best places to experience Chinese New Year in Asia are in China and Singapore. You can't beat visiting China during this holiday to get the most authentic experience. In China, Beijing is the best city to be in for the New Year. Here, travelers can see plenty of activities from the Beijing Opera and dragon dances to martial arts shows and temple fairs. Another great option to experience Chinese New Year is to visit Singapore which has a large Chinese population. In Singapore, travelers can watch as the city goes wild with fireworks, dragon dances, and parades. The Chingay Parade is also a sight to see and is the largest float parade in Asia including acrobats, jugglers, and lion dancers. 4. Yuki Matsuri—Sapporo Snow Festival Yuki Matsuri Feb. 4-11, 2023 is more famously known as the Sapporo Snow Festival and takes place every year for a week in February. This celebration began in the 1950s when a few college students made some impressive snow sculptures in the area. Since then, the festival has grown exponentially and now features around 400 snow and ice sculptures. At the festival, you can watch as the snow sculptures are created by trained teams from around 20 different countries and stick around to see who wins in the end. There are also plenty of other things to do such as joining in the giant snowball fight, checking out the snow slide, grabbing a hot drink at the ice bar, and sampling some of Hokkaido's best food. The main events of the Sapporo Snow Festival take place in Odori Park which is near Sapporo Station. The festival also features other events including live music concerts and a ski and snowboard jumping contest. 5. Thaipusam—Celebration Malaysia's God of War Thaipusam Feb. 5, 2023 is possibly one of Asia's most intense festivals and is dedicated to Murugan, the Hindu God of War. The best place to experience this celebration is in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur which has a large Hindu population. Every year the celebrations of Thaipusam include a procession to Batu caves, located on the outskirts of the city. Millions of pilgrims show up for the event and participate in climbing up the 272 steps to reach the cave. The idea behind the festival seems to be enduring pain in order to honor Murugan and most events are not for the squeamish. During the Kavadi Attam or "burden dance" devotees will perform acts to demonstrate their devotion to the God of War. These acts may include piercing tongues and skin with skewers and pulling heavy items via ropes that are hooked into the skin of participants’ backs. Preparation for the festival begins 48 days in advance with fasting, prayer, and many people shaving their heads. Recommended Itinerary 6. Diwali—Hindu Festival of Light Diwali Nov. 12, 2023 is the biggest Hindu festival of the year and is celebrated in October or November on what Indians believe to be the darkest night of the year. Diwali is often called the Festival of Light and celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The main symbol of Diwali is the diya or a small clay lantern. During the night of the holiday, Indians all over the country light thousands of diyas in celebration of the defeat of darkness. Some Indians believe that the holiday celebrates the mythological return of King Rama, others believe it celebrates the birth of Lakshmi, while others still celebrate it as Lord Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura. No matter the reason, Indians celebrate this joyous holiday by lighting candles, performing rituals for the gods Lakshmi and Ganesh, buying gold and silver, and having large get-togethers with family where they eat and exchange gifts. The best ways for travelers to experience this festival include visiting New Delhi or Jaipur where you can take in the illuminated Diwali markets, visiting Varanasi where the streets are covered in diyas, or experiencing the celebration of the goddess of destruction, Kali, in Kolkata. 7. Tet—Vietnamese New Year Tet Jan. 22, 2023 is the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year and because it is based on the Buddhist lunar calendar, it usually occurs at the same time as the Chinese New Year. The two celebrations also have many similarities from the tradition of getting together with family and having a large meal to giving children lucky money. The celebrations of Tet often last for around four days and include fireworks, temple visits, exchanging gifts, and visiting relatives. Many Vietnamese also return to their ancestral homes and villages during the holiday so many cities may feel empty and quiet. If you are a traveler visiting Vietnam during Tet, the best places to go are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh where you can join in the celebrations. In Hanoi, you can take in the fireworks, watch the parades of the Co Lao Festival, or celebrate the Dong Da Festival with locals. In Ho Chi Minh, travelers can see the Tau Hu Canal when it is transformed into a vibrant flower market, attend the book festival, and try some great street food in Cholon. A Southeast Asia Overview for a Shorter Vacation 8. Songkran—Thai Water Festival Songkran Apr. 13-15, 2023 is the Thai New Year which is celebrated with the world's largest water fight. This festival is an absolute joy to experience with the three days of celebrations requiring most cities to practically shut down to allow the chaos of the water fight to ensue. This festival has its origins in Buddhism where water is a symbol of purification and cleansing. Traditionally, Songkran is celebrated by cleaning the home, sprinkling water on the hands of elders and monks, and spending time with family. The water fight is a more recent addition, but one that brings the whole country to life with fun and games. People of all ages head to the streets armed with buckets of water, water guns, and even hoses in order to "bless" or "cleanse" those around them on the New Year. Fair warning, if you visit Thailand during Songkran, you will get wet! One of the best places in Thailand to celebrate this holiday is Bangkok where the city comes to a standstill and the entirety of Khao San Road is shut down and blocked off for water fights. Annual date April 13-15 9. Boryeong—Korea's Giant Mud Fight Boryeong Mud Festival Jul. 21-30, 2023 began in 1988 as a way to promote the nutrient-rich and cosmetic properties of the mud located near Boryeong. Since then, this festival has grown to include many events and has attracted people from all over the world who gather to smear mud on each other and have fun. Most of the events at the festival are mud themed and include activities like mud baths, facial masks, a mud maze, painting with colored mud, mud wrestling, inflatable slides, and mud fights. The event also has a performance stage from which artists play EDM and pop music. More laid back visitors can consider participating in events like beauty mud therapies, soap making, and massages. The festival grounds can be reached during a day trip from Seoul and the event is great for families as well as solo travelers. The Best Southeast Asia Tour for First-timers 10. Harbin Ice Festival—Ice and Snow Sculpture Celebration The Harbin Ice Festival Jan. 5 - Feb. 5, 2023 is the largest ice sculpture festival in the world and takes place every year in China's north-most province, Harbin. The festival showcases incredible ice sculptures ranging from small figures and ice lanterns to 250-foot-tall monuments. Most of the ice sculptures are also lit up with beautiful colored lights for photographs. The Harbin Ice Festival started with the Chinese tradition of creating lanterns from blocks of ice during the winter months. Local peasants and fishermen would often hollow out a chunk of ice and place a candle in the center to make a lantern that was wind resistant. Today, the ice sculptures are made around 260,000 cubic yards of ice taken from the nearby Songhua River. At the festival, travelers can explore the ice exhibits, go skiing, ride the ice slide, and take photos of your favorite sculptures. JIN DING/CHINA DAILY Editor's note As Valentine's Day is being celebrated on Monday and Lantern Festival will be celebrated on Tuesday, three scholars share their views on the festivals with China Daily. Do you prefer to celebrate Valentine's Day, which falls on Monday, or Lantern Festival which falls on Tuesday? Many young people may ask, "Why not both"? Festivals are social events people have enjoyed since ancient times, when people around the world held ritual activities in groups to worship their ancestors, pray for good fortune or celebrate the harvest. In olden days, festivals were events celebrated by a community. Festivals arise from our ancestors' marking of seasonal changes and astronomical phenomena associated with religious beliefs. In earlier times festival activities would always be regarded as having great significance. Later, festivals often became characterized by carnivals in which some of the original significance was lost as people gathered together to enjoy a good time. Since industrialization ushered much of the world into the modern era, festivals have gradually served to fulfill more secular, social and recreational purposes, and are less closely linked with the forces that our ancestors believed shaped people's daily lives and fortunes. Nowadays, among the festivals celebrated in China are specific days that honor particular social groups or professions, such as the National Day, Teachers' Day and Women's Day, and the time-honored festivals, such as Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, whose origins can be traced back thousands of years ago and which are now celebrated as national holidays. There are other festivals that people celebrate to varying degrees such as Qixi, which is the Chinese Valentine's Day, and the Chongyang or Double Ninth Festival, the longevity festival, as well as many regional ethnic group festivals. All these festivals break up the daily routine and inject vitality into people's lives. In modern times, some Western festivals, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Mother's Day and Father's Day, although not public holidays, are enjoyed by young people and have become "new celebrations" in Chinese society. Actually, Christmas in China is more of a day for fun, friendship and fondness than a religious celebration. Shopping malls and entertainment facilities in the big cities are filled with Christmas elements, such as fir trees, Santa Claus and carols, while Halloween is celebrated by youthful party-goers who like to wear fancy costumes for the occasion. But in general, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day are the most popular Western festivals in China. Valentine's Day, which is closely linked with fashion and consumerism, is widely celebrated by young people in urban areas. They have adopted the traditional Western ways of celebrating the day, with couples enjoying a romantic dinner and exchanging gifts, such as flowers, chocolates and jewelry. Valentine's Day always gives a boost to such consumption. Besides, Mother's Day and Father's Day are accepted by the whole society because of China's culture of filial piety. Many Chinese people take this opportunity to show their gratitude to their parents by sending gifts or having a meal together. The cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world help many Chinese accept foreign festivals, which in turn enrich their daily lives. Meanwhile, the introduction and acceptance of foreign festivals reveal the inclusiveness and vitality of Chinese civilization. However, while recognizing the positive contributions these adopted foreign festivals make to cultural exchanges between China and other countries, it should be recognized that the values of these foreign festivals may be different from those embodied in traditional Chinese culture. Against this backdrop, the authorities can play a role by strengthening the preservation and promotion of China's traditional festivals and preventing the commercial opportunities presented by Western festivals from giving them undue importance. Chinese traditional festivals are reflections of the traditional culture and values in the modern era. The country should not let young people forget the traditional values they celebrate. Compared with foreign festivals, Chinese festivals focus more on the family and are characterized by the different generations of a family celebrating them together. Take Spring Festival, the most important festival in China, which fell on Feb 1 this year. The festival is associated with several customs. During the seven-day holiday, people gather for an annual family reunion dinner, thoroughly clean their houses, and decorate windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets that display the charm of traditional culture. According to official data, more than 90 million passenger trips were made on China's railways from Jan 17 to Feb 2, the first 17 days of the Spring Festival travel rush this year. Actually, the festival led to billions of passenger journeys every year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Traditional culture is a key element that can help finally realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. It is quite important for the country to boost its traditional festivals and culture, enhance international cultural communication and improve cultural attractiveness. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily. The author is a researcher at the China National Center for Cultural Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The most popular festivals in Southeast Asia originate from a wide variety of religious and cultural traditions. The Buddhist worldview inspires Songkran and Vesak. The Taoist tradition celebrates Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Muslims celebrate the month-long Ramadan fasting season and Eid al-Fitr at its end. As most of these traditions follow different calendars, the dates vary relative to the Gregorian calendar; we've included their dates through 2023. 01 of 09 Chinese New Year Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board / Goh Koon Peng The significant ethnic Chinese presence in Southeast Asia celebrates its biggest festival during the Chinese New Year. All across the region—but most especially in Penang, Singapore,​ and Vietnam—street bazaars, fireworks, and family reunions mark the changing of calendars. Penang, in particular, specializes in Chinese New Year foods that are rarely served at any other time of the year; in Singapore, families celebrate by preparing and eating the tossed raw-fish salad known as yu sheng. Dates Moveable feast, following the Chinese lunar calendar—January 25 2020, Friday, February 12 2021, February 1 2022, and January 22 2023Celebrated in Penang, Singapore, Vietnam, and in cities with significant ethnic Chinese communities 02 of 09 Thaipusam Chris McGrath / Staff / Getty Images The Tamil Indian community in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Thaipusam to honor the Hindu god Subramaniam Lord Murugan; thousands of devotees carry painful-looking offerings called kavadi, attached to each devotee's skin with 108 metal skewers each. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thaipusam festivities take place at the Batu Caves, where the procession ascends 272 steps up to a cave chamber marked with a massive statue of Lord Murugan. A smaller procession takes place in nearby Penang, where the procession moves from the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani hilltop temple. Dates Moveable feast, following the Tamil calendar—February 8 2020, January 28 2021, January 18 2022, and February 5 2023Celebrated in Malaysia and Singapore 03 of 09 Songkran Kampee Patisena / Getty Images This traditional Buddhist new year celebration occurs around the end of the planting season, now codified to occur between April 13 to 15 every year. Historically, the region's farmers had a rare break in their busy planting schedules at this time of year and could take time to celebrate with their communities. The celebrations are marked with the act of throwing water on passersby, whether in Thailand's Songkran, Cambodia's Chol Chnam Thmey, Laos' Bun Pi Mai, or Myanmar's Thingyan. Devotees in each country believe that water washes away bad luck; thus anybody, on the streets is fair game to be drenched with water pistols or smeared in wet talcum powder. Dates April 13 to 15 annually Gregorian calendarCelebrated in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand 04 of 09 Vesak Jung-Pang Wu / Getty Images Buddhists in Southeast Asia celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha on Vesak. It's believed that good deeds done on this day will return more merit than any other time of the year. Buddhist communities redouble their efforts to do deeds of generosity on this day. The most scenic Vesak celebrations take place near Yogyakarta in Indonesia. Thousands of Buddhists from all over the world gather at Borobudur in a procession bearing sacred objects like holy relics, volumes of holy books, and offerings; after ascending to the pinnacle, monks release sky lanterns into the air to commemorate Buddha’s bringing enlightenment to the world. Dates Moveable feast, following the Buddhist calendar—May 6 2020, May 26 2021, May 16 2022, and May 6 2023Celebrated in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos Continue to 5 of 9 below. 05 of 09 Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr vm2002 / Getty Images Throughout the fasting month of Ramadan, the Muslim communities in Southeast Asia come together to feast after dark. Tourists can chow on Ramadan food at the pasar malam or night markets that populate the streets—take your pick from curries, rice cakes, and other Malaysian street foods; or browse through clothes, souvenirs, and CDs on display. The end of Ramadan—Eid al-Fitri, or Hari Raya Puasa in Malaysia—is met with joy, as families stage get-togethers and congregate at the mosques for Thanksgiving. Places like Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia come alive with exultant devotees join them if you like, just observe proper mosque etiquette. Singapore's significant Malay Muslim population can be found partying mainly in Kampong Glam, Singapore. Dates Moveable feast, following the first sighting of the crescent moon—Eid al-Fitri falls on May 24 2020, May 12 2021, May 2 2022, and April 21 2023Celebrated in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore 06 of 09 Galungan Sheldon Levis / Getty Images The Balinese celebrate the victory of good Dharma over evil Adharma during the festival season known as Galungan. Following the 210-day Balinese Pawukon Calendar, Galungan takes a full 10 days to celebrate, within which the spirits of the ancestors are believed to be visiting, thus encouraging the Balinese to show their gratitude to the divines in different ways. Families offer bountiful sacrifices of food and flowers in their family altars and at local temples. The sides of houses sprout tall bamboo poles called "penjor," and villagers welcome the mythical beast known as the "barong" into their homes, in an exorcism ceremony known as Ngelawang. Dates Moveable feast, following the Balinese pawukon calendar—February 19 to 29 and September 16 to 26 2020, April 14 to 24 and November 10 to 20 2021, June 8 to 18 2022, and January 4 to 14 2023Celebrated in Bali, Indonesia 07 of 09 Hungry Ghost Festival NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images Following the Taoist belief in the afterlife, the Hungry Ghost Festival marks the seventh lunar month, when the afterlife momentarily allows the spirits of the dead to roam in the world of the living. For Chinese communities in Malaysia particularly Chinatown and Singapore particularly Penang and Melaka, the Hungry Ghost month is a time to make offerings of food and burnt prayer money to the deceased to appease them. Stages are set up to entertain the ghosts and the living as well with music and theatrical performances. Dates Moveable feast, following the Chinese lunar calendar—September 2 2020, August 22 2021, August 12 2022, and August 30 2023Celebrated in Singapore, Malaysia, and in cities with significant ethnic Chinese communities 08 of 09 Deepavali Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board Known elsewhere as Diwali, the Tamil Indian community in Singapore and Malaysia celebrates Deepavali to commemorate Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura, cementing the victory of good over evil. Deepavali is also the Hindu equivalent of the new year; Indian families take time to hold reunions through the season. In the Singapore ethnic enclave of Little India, street markets flourish outdoors, dispensing spices, flowers, fine clothing, and traditional dishes to locals and tourists alike. Dates Moveable feast, following the Tamil calendar—November 14 2020, November 4 2021, October 24 2022, and November 9 2023Celebrated in Malaysia and Singapore Continue to 9 of 9 below. 09 of 09 Christmas Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board The Christian population in Singapore and the largely Catholic Philippines throw the biggest Christmas celebrations in the region. Singapore's Christmas in the Tropics coincides with massive street light-ups, shopping specials read about shopping in Singapore and parties ramping up to the New Year festivities in Sentosa and Marina Bay. In the Philippines, the capital Manila experiences massive gridlock leading up to Christmas—families hold reunions during the Yuletide season and hang up lanterns called parol outside their houses. The Giant Lantern Festival shows off the biggest and brightest of these parol. Dates December 25 annually Gregorian calendarCelebrated in Philippines and Singapore The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in several Southeast and Northeast Asian countries, especially among those of Chinese descent. The celebration is on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which is the middle of the autumn season the autumn season being the seventh, eighth, and ninth lunar months. In the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls sometime around mid- to late September, or early October. Let's take a look at how this holiday is observed in different countries. China Zhongqiu Jie The festival is set aside to enjoy the "successful reaping of rice and wheat in a busy agricultural year." Originally, it was an outdoor festival for thanksgiving and pleasure after heavy farming labors. Altars were set up in family courtyards under the moon. Offerings of melons, cakes, and pomegranates and other fruit were presented in honor of the moon. Today, it is a time for friends and families to gather together, to enjoy a big dinner, to eat moon cakes Yuebing, to sip tea, and to watch the moon with a perfectly round shape symbolizing "familial harmony and unity." There have been many well-known poems, paintings and writings about the clear and bright moon of the Mid-autumn Day, expressing homesickness from travelers or those far away from home. The round shape of moon cakes is another symbol of family fillings of moon cakes include date paste, smashed bean, walnut, cassia bloom, egg yolk, salted meat, melon seeds and lotus seed paste. In Chinese mythology, Goddess Chang E lives lonely in the lunar "Palace of Great Cold." She was separated from her husband Hou Yi after she swallowed the elixir of life, which her husband received from the Queen Mother of the West. Her rabbit accompanies her and is pounding the elixir of immortality with a mortar and pestle. Another inhabitant of the moon is the wood cutter Wu Gang. He was sentenced by the Jade Emperor to chop down a cassia tree seen as the giver of life which can magically heal itself and thus he can never make any progress. Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts by ISBN 0835124819Publication Date 1992-01-01An outstanding introduction to the variety of popular Chinese festivals, including Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, Qingming, and many more. Illustrated throughout, this book contains color photos, appendices, glossary, bibliography and index. Vietnam Tet Trung Thu The full moon of the eighth lunar month symbolizes fertility. Originally, people prayed for a "bountiful harvest and a multiplication of all living things." In early twentieth century, this festival was an opportunity for young men and women to find their future life companions, or for young ladies to exhibit their handiwork and talents. Over time, the festival transformed into a celebration for children. Children receive gifts of toys, and enjoy cakes, fruit and rice paste molded in the shapes of animals. They parade with lanterns in the form of five-pointed stars like those on the national flag, or with masks representing animals or characters from movies, comic books and anime. Handcrafted shadow lanterns used to be an important part of the festival displays. But many have been replaced by batter-powered plastic ones. Paper scholar, a figure "dressed in the cap and robe of a court official" from ancient times, is a traditional gift to children, intending to inspire the kids to "achieve great things in life." Singapore People gather at home to "admire the full moon while drinking tea and sampling mooncakes." Chinese Singaporeans exchange moon cakes as gifts. In additional to traditional moon cakes, some new varieties have emerged, such as the Bloody Mary Snow Skin and Cranberry Cheese. At night, children will roam around with lanterns of different shapes and sizes. Tourists can visit Chinatown to enjoy street lightings and bazaars and get immersed in the festive atmosphere. Korea Chuseok Harvest Moon Festival is a three-day holiday in Korea and is often called the Korean version of Thanksgiving Day. It is a time when rice and other autumn crops are harvested, and fruits ripen. Koreans will visit the graves of their ancestors in their hometown and present a bountiful offering table filled with rice cake, rice wine and fresh fruits. They will remove weeds around the graves that have grown over summer, a ritual named "Beolcho." After dusk, families and friends will gather and enjoy the beauty of the full harvest moon or play folk games such as Ganggangsullae Korean circle dance. Gifts are exchanged among friends and relatives. Traditional Chuseok food includes steamed rice, rice cakes, and liquor, made from newly harvested rice. Malaysia Family gather under the full autumn moon to celebrate unity and enjoy moon cakes. Varieties of moon cakes are sold in special counters of shopping malls. Dragon dance, lion dance, float parade and lantern procession activities are held. Thailand Moon Worship Festival At the night of the 15th of the lunar eighth month, the statues of Guanyin Godness of Mercy, กวนอิม and the Eight Immortals โป๊ยเซียน are set up on the altars. Offerings include peach-shaped cakes and moon cakes. People believe the Eight Immortals will bring peach-shaped cakes to the moon and celebrate Guanyin's birthday there. After birthday celebration, Guanyin and the Eight Immortals will descend a lot of blessings to people living on the earth. Chinese communities are decorated with lanterns and children will play and stroll around with lanterns in their hands. Egg-yolk lotus seed paste moon cake is the most popular variety in market. Durian moon cake is a very unique variety that deserves a try. Philippines The Moon Festival or Autumn Festival is celebrated by moon cake exchanges among friends, relatives and neighbors. China towns and Chinese communities are decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. Dragon dance, lantern procession, and float parade are popular activities. A game of chance/dice named the mooncake game is played by both Chinese and Filipinos. Japan Tsukimi. 月見 Japanese Moon-viewing Festival has a recorded history of more than one thousand years. The ceremony serves as a prayer for a rich harvest of crops, an admiration to the moon, and a nexus between the aesthetic and spiritual. Japanese pampas grass is used for decoration and and dango rice dumplings are used in the ceremony. Image attributions These traditional festivals will really introduce you to life in China. There are annual events like Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Qingming Tomb Sweeping Festival, Double Seven Festival, and the Winter Solstice. The festivals introduced here have been selected for their traditional Chinese nature. Often the dates will vary from year to year because they are celebrated according to the Chinese calendar. See below for the dates. You may need to inquire for dates in the following year. Traditional Festivals and Events List 1. Chinese New Year Dates, Traditions, Animal Signs 2022 February 1, 2022 2023 January 22, 2023 2024 February 10, 2024 Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival. It is the most important festival to Chinese people. Many activities are held to celebrate the festival, such as dragon dances, setting off firecrackers, making dumplings, etc. Read more about Chinese New Year. 2. China's Lantern Festival Traditions, Activities, Places To Go 2022 February 15, 2022 Tuesday 2023 February 5, 2023 Sunday 2024 February 24, 2024 Saturday The Lantern Festival is traditionally the last day of the Chinese New Year period. It became a festival about 2,000 years ago. Billions of lanterns and giant lantern and drone displays makes the time festive. Read more about China's Lantern Festival Traditions, Activities, Places To Go 3. Qingming Festival 2022 April 5, 2022 Tuesday 2023 April 5, 2023 Wednesday 2024 April 4, 2024 Thursday Qingming Festival around April 4 is Chinese people's day for visiting graves and burial grounds to pray their respects to their ancestors. It's known as Tomb Sweeping Festival in English. Many Chinese also go for a picnic during Qingming Festival to enjoy the picturesque scenery of spring. Read more Qingming Festival 4. Dragon Boat Festival 2022 June 3, 2022 Friday 2023 June 22, 2023 Thursday 2024 June 10, 2024 Monday The most popular and representative activity of Dragon Boat Festival is dragon boat racing. Dragon Boat Festival falls on month 5 day 5 of the Chinese lunar calendar around mid-June. During this traditional festival in China, people customarily eat rice dumplings. Read more about Dragon Boat Festival 5. Double Seventh Day - How to Celebrate China's Valentine’s Day 2022 August 4, 2022 Thursday 2023 August 22, 2023 Tuesday 2024 August 10, 2024 Saturday Double Seventh Day falls on the 7th day of the 7th month of China's lunar calendar around mid-August; that's why it is called Double Seventh Day. Known as China's Valentine's Day, it is a festival that has legendary links with romance and love in China. Read more about Chinese Valentine’s Day 6. Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 September 10, 2022 Saturday 2023 September 29, 2023 Friday 2024 September 17, 2024, Tuseday In 2023, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, will fall on September 29 Friday. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many East Asian communities... People celebrate it by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating mooncakes, etc. Learn more about Mid-Autumn Festival. 7. Winter Solstice Dongzhi Festival 2022 December 22, 2022 Thursday 2023 December 22, 2023 Friday 2024 December 21, 2024 Saturday Some Chinese celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st, 22nd or 23rd depending on the day it falls. It is a custom for people to eat dumplings and/or tangyuan with their family on the day of the Winter Solstice. Read more 8. Summer Solstice xià zhì夏至 — the Longest Day 2022 June 21, 2022 Tuesday 2023 June 21, 2023 Wednesday 2024 June 21, 2021 Friday Solar terms are a Chinese conception of the seasons and a product of the tireless exploration of the natural sciences by Chinese people's ancestors. "Summer solstice" is one of the most... Read more 9. The Double Ninth Festival 2022 October 4, 2022 Tuesday 2023 October 23, 2023 Monday 2024 October 11, 2024 Friday The Double Ninth Festival is also named Chongyang Festival. It is held on the 9th day of the 9th month of the Chinese lunar calendar around mid-October. During the festival, enjoying chrysanthemums and climbing mountains are both popular activities in China. Read more 10. Hungry Ghost Festival 2022 August 12, 2022 Friday 2023 August 30, 2023 Wednesday 2024 August 18, 20214 Sunday In China, special customs for memorizing the dead are held on Qingming Festival and Hungry Ghost Festival. Hungry Ghost Festival is the most important festival in month seven of the lunar calendar for Chinese people. The date, lunar month 7 day 15, is around late August. Read more