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Holidays and Festivals in Taiwan Commemorative Holidays Traditional Festivals By Hsin Lin Lu & Hsin- Han Yu Slide 2 Commemorative Holidays Back to Menu Traditional Festivals Founding Day of the ROC 228 Memorial Day Women's Day Youth Day Children's Day Tomb Sweeping Day Labor Day Armed Forces Day Teacher's Day Double Tenth National Day Taiwan's Retrocession Day Constitution Day Slide 3 Traditional Festivals Back to Menu Commemorative Holidays Chinese New Year Lantern Festival Farmers Day Dragon Boat Festival Ghost Festival Mid Autumn Festival Double Ninth Day Slide 4 Founding Day of the ROC Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays January 1, 1912 is the official "birthday" of Asia's first democratic republic, the Republic of China. The ROC's Founding Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, united a vanguard of revolutionary patriots to revolt against the Ch'ing court.Dr. Sun Yat-sen On this day, families around Taiwan patriotically hang the national flag and the streets are ablaze with the colors of lanterns and banners and the dazzling lights of ceremonial arches. All of this is done in memory of the revolutionary heroes of the republic's early days and to cherish the prosperity the nation enjoys today. Slide 5 228 Memorial Day The 228 Incident, also known as the 228 Massacre, was an anti-government uprising in Taiwan that began on February 28, 1947 and was violently suppressed by the Kuomintang (KMT) government.Kuomintang After the incident, public demand for redress quickly spread. The governor Chen Yi demanded the military and the police department to arrest and execute the participants. 228 incident became a taboo for more than 4 decades. Now, the government hold many memorial services, concerts, art exhibitions to expiate the massacre and commemorate the suffering and loss of many innocent people. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 6 Women's Day March, 8th is Womens day in Taiwan. The current condition of women in Taiwan has improved greatly, and with these changes, Women's Day has grown to become a major occasion in Taiwan. The considerable achievements of women in Taiwan are celebrated on this day at annual events held by central and local government agencies, including public tributes to the Ten Outstanding Young Women of the Year, and Dimond Lady awards, to name but a few. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 7 Youths Day March 29th is Youths Day in Taiwan. On this day the ROC president personally officiates at the public service held at the shrine for the Martyrs' of the Revolution and all soldiers killed in action, and local governments hold similar ceremonies at the regional level. Youth Day is also celebrated by the Youth Day Celebration Ceremony, at which "Ten Outstanding Youth" are honored to encourage young people to cherish the achievements of the revolution. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 8 Childrens Day April, 4th the Children's Day is a time of festivity for our nation's young. The occasion is marked by the Children's Day Celebration honoring model students from around Taiwan and by numerous parent-children activities sponsored by government and civic organizations. Thus, the day not only lets the kids become king for a day, but also helps to strengthen the bond between parents and their children. In recent years, children's issues have gained greater attention in Taiwan, leading to the founding of several child welfare groups. With passage of the Children's Welfare Law, the rights of young people have been given legal protection so that the future leaders of the nation can live a life free from worry and uncertainty.children's issues child welfare groupsChildren's Welfare Law Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 9 Tomb Sweeping Day The Chinese respect for filial piety and careful attention to funeral rites is visibly manifested in the custom of ancestor worship. Since ancient times, a day has been designated for sweeping the tomb and honoring one's ancestors. Though different in each family, these rites are usually performed on the first few days prior to or following Ching Ming, one of the traditional solar divisions falling in early April.sweeping the tomb Tomb Sweeping Day combines the people's reverence for their ancestors and for nature and is a reaffirmation of the Chinese ethic of filial piety. Today, Tomb Sweeping Day is a time not only for worship and maintaining the tombs of ancestors, but also a tangible expression of filial respect for the teachings and virtues of forebears. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 10 Labor Day The ROC labor movement began in 1919 with the founding of the nation's first worker organizations. the National Workers' Conference convened in Canton and Hankow to advance worker rights and interests. A major contributor to the labor movement, the conference designated May 1 as "Labor Day" in Taiwan, and continues to hold commemorative meetings on this day. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 11 Armed Forces Day Armed Forces Day (September, 3rd) has been celebrated not only by the official " Armed Forces Day Performance," but also by troop-cheering activities sponsored by civilian groups from all quarters honoring the nation's soldiers. During these activities, people chant slogans, carry signs, and hold competitions that instill the concept of "Honor for the Military and Love for the People" in the hearts of all soldiers and citizens. But perhaps most important to the men in uniform is the rare day-off military personnel are granted by the Ministry of National Defense on this occasion!Armed Forces Day Performance,troop-cheering activities Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 12 Teachers Day In the history of Chinese education, Confucius is a paragon of all teachers. In 1939 the Ministry of Education pronounced that Confucius' birthday would be celebrated on August 28, and designated it as Teachers' Day as well as a national holiday to remember Confucius' enormous contribution to Chinese culture and society. The date was changed to September 28 in 1952 in accordance with chronologists' new findings.Confucius Every year during Teachers' Day, the Confucius Memorial Service is solemnly held at the Confucius Temple to show respect and honor for the Sage. At the "Teachers Day Celebration" held by the Ministry of Education and the various local governments, teachers with the highest seniority and best qualities are recognized for their contribution to society.Confucius Memorial ServiceConfucius Temple Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 13 Double Tenth-- National Day The radiance of October in Taiwan is ushered in with the Birthday of the Republic of China: Double Tenth National Day; celebrated every year on October 10 th. The Celebration Ceremony held in front of the Presidential Office Building on the afternoon of National Day is attended by ministers, returned overseas Chinese, foreign dignitaries, and hundreds of thousands of people from around the country. The National Day Parade is the main event of the morning activities on Double Tenth, and is followed by a public parade including representatives of different professions, as well as entertainment and folk performances. Evening events include the National Day Fireworks Display, which for several hours turns the night sky over the major cities of Taiwan into a dazzling explosion of color. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 14 Taiwans Retrocession Day With China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the consequent signing of the Instrument of Surrender on August 15, 1945, freedom was once again restored in Taiwan. Since Japanese rule of Taiwan officially ended on October 25, 1945, the day has been designated as Taiwan's Retrocession Day in memory of this event.War of Resistance Against Japan To remind the people of the days when Taiwan was subjected to foreign rule and to cherish the present accomplishments of the nation, popular memorial activities are held and families hang the national flag every year on October 25 to celebrate the important significance of this day. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 15 Constitution Day Constitution Day is celebrated every year in Taiwan on December 25 to remember a day of special significance to the whole nation, the official enactment of constitutional law. Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 16 Chinese New Year A time of gratitude and family togetherness, New Year's Eve is spent by bidding farewell to the old year and thanking one's ancestors and the gods for their blessing and protection. Children who have left their hometowns return on this day to share New Year's Eve Dinner with their families, and for those unable to make the journey, a table setting is placed to symbolize their presence in spirit if not in body. At the end of dinner, the parents and older generation give New Year's money to the children, who have been waiting with growing anticipation for this moment to arrive. Finally, to watch the old year out and bring in the new year, families stay up until the wee hours of New Year's Day.bidding farewell to the old yearNew Year's Eve DinnerNew Year's money bring in the new year Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 17 Lantern Festival Lantern Festival, also known as Shang Yuan Festival, takes place on the fifteenth day of the first moon. Last in a series of springtime celebrations, this "second New Year" is widely celebrated by families all around Taiwan.Shang Yuan Festival On the night of the festival, decorative lanterns depicting birds, beasts, historical figures, and any one of a number of different themes are carried by children or adorn temples. To highlight these glowing works of art, competitions are held. The Taipei Lantern Festival, held annually at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Plaza and the largest and most famous of these competitions, is attended every year by thousands of lantern-watchers. The Lantern Festival is further enriched by the customary lantern riddle parties that are held on this night.decorative lanternsThe Taipei Lantern Festivallantern riddle parties Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 18 Farmers Day Each year around the 15th of the first month on the Chinese calendar is the "Start of Spring", marking the passing of winter and the arrival of spring. The main activity is "whipping the Spring Ox." The "Spring Ox" is a colorful paper cow stuffed with "the five grains" which pour out when the cow is whipped, a symbolic omen for a good harvest. Other customs include drinking Spring Wine; eating the Plate of Spring Foods (celery, chives, and bamboo shoots which are homophones for industriousness, longevity, and prosperity); and worshipping the Spring Deity, the Earth God who is prayed to for a good harvest Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 19 Dragon Boat Festival Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and together with Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival forms one of the three major Chinese holidays. Since the summer is a time when diseases most easily spread, Dragon Boat Festival began as an occasion for driving off evil spirits and pestilence and for finding peace in one's life. The festival was later enriched by the legend of the patriot Chu Yuan.Chinese New YearMid-Autumn FestivalChu Yuan Dragon Boat Festival is highlighted by the dragon boat races, in which competing teams drive their boats forward rowing to the rhythm of pounding drums. This lively and colorful tradition has continued unbroken for centuries to the present day.dragon boat races Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 20 Ghost Festival Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Taiwan have a holiday to fete the departed spirits of the underworld : Ghost Festival, a popular occasion celebrated throughout China on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which also coincides with the Buddhist Ullambana (Deliverance) Festival and the Taoist Ghost Festival. Since each of these traditions in some way honors the spirits of the departed the seventh lunar month has come to be known as Ghost Month.Ullambana (Deliverance) Festival Ghost FestivalGhost Month In Taiwan, Ghost Festival is passed by slaughtering a pig and sheep, which together with a prodigious table of wine and meat is offered to one's ancestors and ghosts from the underworld. Numerous Putu festivities are also held at this time around the island. Slide 21 Mid-Autumn Festival Mid-Autumn Festival is said to have originated from the ancient ceremony of Sacrificing to the Moon Goddess. When that ceremony was later combined with the Legend of Eating Moon-cakes, Mid-Autumn Festival grew in the popular consciousness to become the major occasion that it is today.Legend of Eating Moon-cakes Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions. On this night, families will go together to scenic spots and parks for moon appreciation parties, eating moon-cakes and pomeloes in the cool night air and praying for a safe year. pomeloes Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with the fall harvest, the occasion is also celebrated in Taiwan by making offerings to the Earth God (Tu-ti Gong) in hope that he will make the next year's harvest even more bountiful.Earth God (Tu-ti Gong) Traditional Festivals Commemorative Holidays Slide 22 Double Ninth Day Back to Menu Commemorative Holidays Double Ninth Day is Senior Citizen's Day. In Chinese, the word "nine" is homophonous with the word for "long time," and accordingly this number has come to represent longevity.Senior Citizen's Day Through the ages, Double Nine Day has evolved into a rich and varied occasion, with hill climbing and kite flying activities to strengthen the body, soul and heart; and Senior Citizens' Day to invigorate the traditional Chinese values of filial piety and caring for the elderly. The occasion is thus a time both of good spirit and deep traditional significance.