Ancient Chinese festivals were celebrated with the aim of spreading good wishes and happiness. The local villagers, who admired him, fed the fish so that they would spare the body of Qu Yuan, they also paddled out on boats to retrieve his body. Since then, Chinese put food in front of their doors on the starting day of the festival. Four important ancient Chinese festivals (the Spring Festival, Pure Brightness Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival) in particular, are still widely celebrated among people in China. Tales added romances to the festivals. China is a country with a long history of about 5,000 years. The old festivals in China can be dated back to very long ago. The ancient Chinese had a belief that Nian will not attack them if a food was offered to it. Religion influenced festivals greatly. The beginning of these traditional festivals was particularly related to the later decided 24 seasonal division points under the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. These poems are appreciated by all the Chinese. It was celebrated to honor the death of Qu Yuan, a renowned poet and minister to the King of Chu in 278 BC. We should pay much attention to protect them. Traditional festivals of China are colorful and rich in content. Contact Us This primary visual source shows a dragon being displayed at the annual Lantern Festival. The Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The Lantern Festival is … Ancient Chinese festivals like Chinese New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival were some examples of such festivals based on legends and worships. To Tang Dynasty, festivals had been liberated from the mysterious atmosphere of primitive worshipping. Many of these festivals and events are still held in China. Over 5000 years history has witnessed the creation of many Chinese traditional festivals. The forming and evaluation process of traditional festival are very slow, and they go into people’s life slowly as well. It tells us that Chinese festivals are performed all over the country, not just in the South. Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) The Duanwu Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month … The forming process of traditional festival is an evaluation process of a nation and a growing process of traditional cultures. Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) The most important festival of the year was the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year. Most of the traditional festivals in ancient China had something to do with the development of astronomy, calendar, and mathematics. Ancient Chinese festivals were very important and sacred events. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the festivals had stripped off its mysterious coat of primitive sacrifices and superstitions and changed into more entertaining amusement. Some of them rose and some of them fell. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. From these festivals, the life styles of ancient Chinese can be seen clearly. Based on these customs and activities, festivals began to take their shapes. A large number of people no more stick to the traditional customs followed since the ancient times and begin to choose a more simple and casual way to celebrate the festivals. Combining both tradition and fashion, they show a trend of diversification. People often say these festivals formed in Han Dynasty. Since that, festivals became happy and colorful. Origin of Ancient Chinese Festivals History: A large part of the Ancient Chinese Festivals History had already showed the rudiment in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), such as the New Years Eve, New Years Day, Lantern Festival, Shangsi Festival, Hanshi Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Double Seventh Festival, and Double Ninth Festival, and they were celebrated since the ancient times. Festivals are products of human society. The traditional Chinese holidays are an essential part of harvests or prayer … Train People prayed to the ‘God of Wealth’ with the hope that He will bring good fortune to the family. These factors made Chinese traditional festivals seems more attractive. Traditional festivals are precious treasure in Chinese culture. Some historical figures, after merging into the culture of festivals, also become more memorable in the history. In ancient China, as people ascended to high places. To celebrate this festival many chinese people walk up a hill, eat cakes and drink wine. Solar terms provided premise condition for the festivals. Festivals were a large part of Ancient Chinese traditions. According to Chinese folktales, the festival started with a fight against Nian (a mythical beast). Every festival had a different meaning and backstory. Ancient Chinese festivals were very important and sacred events. About Us Due to the development of society and the advancement of times, peoples views about life have changed greatly, and the culture of Chinese festivals is changing with time, too. Testimonial Chinese new year, Chinese mid-autumn festivals, dragon boat festival, many of them has a long history in China. Famous people went into festivals as well. Some less important festivals, on the other hand, were gradually forgotten and had faded over the years. Steep by Nilambar. This is an important part of Chinese culture. The entire celebration lasts for 15 days. And because of these countless poems, Chinese festivals seem very elegant. These divisions helped to form festivals, for, in their work and life, people developed different customs and activities which can express their good wishes according to yearly change of seasons and natural phenomena. For an authentic travel experience, contact one of our travel advisors. FAQ Festivals in ancient Chinese times became so joyful and colorful that they attracted different nationalities and the development of religions, new vigor was always being infused into the culture of festivals, and the customs are able to last till today. Feb.8. What we have to mention is that, poets have written lots of good poems on the festivals in history. China is listed among the four ancient civilization nations in the world. The earliest festival related with primitive worshipping. The religion also influenced the festivals to a certain extent. Chinese festivals are based in the lunar calendar so the exact dates will vary from year to year in our Western Calendar.. By far, the largest and most important festival is Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. The forming and evaluation process of traditional festival are very slow, and they go into people’s life slowly as well. Work for Us, call us at: 86-773-286-5632 (Intl rates apply), © All Rights Reserved,Chinatravel.com® is a registered trademark. Using this information, we are able to gain a thorough understanding of Ancient Chinese festivals and beliefs. The festivals list below are all develop from ancient times. The Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) was believed to have originated in ancient China. Probably the most well known festival is the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). Most traditional festivals had appeared before Qin Dynasty, but they evaluated slowly in the later times. They held these festivals to come together and celebrate. It starts with the first day of the New Year and ends with the Lantern Festival. It is not true. As peoples, living conditions keep improving and their lifestyles change gradually, the ways of celebrating the festivals have changed, too. As the Chu was conquered by Qin, Qu Yuan committed suicide on the fifth day of the fifth month by drowning himself in the Milou River. In Han Dynasty, most festivals had basically formed. Politics was steady and economy was prosperous in Han Dynasty, These conditions supplied a very advantageous presupposition for the forming of festivals. Our local experts are always ready to create a hassle-free tour for you. It also shows us the appearance of the dragon. This marked the beginning of the Dragon Boat Festival. But there are also many others just as lively and colorful that all Chinese kids love and enjoy, here are some of the most remarkable: Terms and Conditions The primal customs were related to the primitive worship and some superstitions and they often had something to do with the colorful legends and stories, which have covered a romantic veil on the festivals. People enjoyed themselves on these festivals. In spite of the change of times, it has gradually become part of the heritage of the colorful Chinese culture. The festivals list below are all develop from ancient times. Copyright © 2020 Ancient China Facts. Many of these festivals and events are still held in China. A large part of the Ancient Chinese Festivals History had already showed the rudiment in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), such as the New Years Eve, New Years Day, Lantern Festival, Shangsi Festival, Hanshi Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Double Seventh Festival, and Double Ninth Festival, and they were celebrated since the ancient times.