Major Traditional Festivals

Chinese New Year (春节)

Date: Lunar January 1st (15 days) #

Pre-New Year

- House cleaning - Preparations - Shopping - Ancestor reunions #

New Year Eve (除夕)

Key Activities: - Reunion dinner (年夜饭) - Staying up late (守岁) - Ancestor offerings - Firecrackers - Red envelopes (红包) #

New Year Days

- Greetings - Visit relatives - Lucky foods - Taboos to observe #

Foods Traditional

- Fish (余) - Dumplings (饺子) - Rice cakes (年糕) - Sweet rice balls (汤圆) - Noodles (面条) #

Taboos

- No sweeping - No breaking things - No crying - No sharp objects

Lantern Festival (元宵节)

Date: 15th day, 1st lunar month Activities: - Lantern displays - Eating tangyuan - Lion dances - Riddle guessing

Qingming Festival (清明节)

Date: April 4-6th Activities: - Tomb sweeping - Offering flowers - Paper offerings - Family gatherings - Spring outings Foods: - Green rice balls (青团) - Cold foods

Dragon Boat Festival (端午节)

Date: 5th day, 5th lunar month Activities: - Dragon boat races - Hanging herbs - Wearing sachets - Zongzi wrapping

Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节)

Date: 15th day, 8th lunar month Activities: - Moon appreciation - Lantern displays - Family reunions - Eating mooncakes

Winter Solstice (冬至)

Date: December 21-23rd Activities: - Ancestor worship - Eating tangyuan - Family gatherings - Year-end thanks

Regional Variations

Guangdong/Hong Kong

- Punti traditions - Cantonese customs - Food-focused celebrations

Taiwan

- Japanese influences - Temple activities - Family reunions

Overseas Communities

- Adapted celebrations - Mixed cultures - New traditions

Family-Specific Traditions

Ancestor Birthdays

- Major ancestor dates - Special offerings - Family gatherings

Death Anniversaries

- Annual memorial days - Particular ancestor honors - Fasting practices