Annual Events and National Holidays
There are lot of holidays and events in Taiwan, because we use also the lunar calender.(update on 8/18)
Spring:(Mar~May)
Women's Day
It is on 8th, March. It is a national holiday for women.( Now it is called as "Women's and Children's Day)
Arbor Day
It is on 12nd, March. It is in memory of the death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
Youth Day
It is on 29th, March. This is a national holiday in memory of the victims of the failed 10th revolution to Ching Dynasty, who were at the average about 23 years old.
Fool's Day
It is on 1st, Apr. You can play tricks on your friends.
Children's Day
It is on 4th, Apr. Don't forget to buy some presents for your child.
Ching-ming Festival
It is on 5th, Apr. In memory of our ancestors, we go to the graveyard and clean it on this day. It is also the day that ex-president Chiang Kei-shek's died. A national holiday.
Labor Day
It is the same as all over the world on 1st, May. A national holiday for labor.
Mother's Day
It is the same as all over the world on the second Sunday of May.
Summer:(Jun~Oct)
My Birthday
It is on 8th, Jun. It's the most important day for me....Thank you, Mom.
Dragon Boat Festival
It is during late May and early June. It is a traditional festival in memory of the loyal poet Chyu-yuan (about two thousand years ago in the country near Yang-tze River). Therefore, it is also Poet Day.
Graduation Season
In late June, phoenix trees grow red flowers, which is just like that the sky is burning. Farewell songs are sung in every campus. There are many freshmen in higher school or in the society.
Gay Pride Festival
It is in the last week of June, but it is not an old custom. In Taiwan, it is supported just by several gay groups.
Father's Day
It is on 8th, Aug. Because the pronunciation of 8 in Chinese is like "pa", so the day for "papa" is on the eighth day in the eighth month.
Moon Festival
It is always between middle Sep and early Oct. A traditional Chinese festival with legendery colors.
Soldier's Day
It is on 3rd, Sep. A national holiday for soldiers.
Elder Citiezen's Day
Originally, it is on the ninth day of the ninth month in lunar calendar, but we now celebrate it on 9th, Sep. The pronunciation of "9" in Chinese is like "long time", so the day means "hope every elder citizen has a long life".
Teacher's Day
It is on 28th, Sep. It is a national holiday and also Confucius' birthday. Ceremonies are held in every Confucius Temple. Many dancers will wear special clothes to dance "Ba-Yi" in honor of Confucius.
ROC's Birthday
It is on 10th, Oct. Republic of China( also known as Taiwan) was established on this day in 1912. It was the 11th revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen and finally successed. Therefore, it is of course a national holiday. Usually, there are fireworks on the major rivers and army parade on the Kaitagalan Boulevard in Taipei City.
Taiwan's Reunion Day
It is on 25th, Oct. To celebrate Taiwan's reunion to China in 1945. A national holiday. Taipei City Government held a dancing party just at the plaza in from of the Presidetial Palace.
Ex-president Chiang Kei-shek's Birthday
Just a national holiday. I have no idea why we celebrate it!!
Autumn:(Nov)
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Birthday
It is on 12nd, Nov. A national holiday.
Winter:(Dec~Feb)
Vote Day
Three-in-one election, Congress, City Chieves and City Councilors, usually takes place in December.
Constitution Day
It is on 25th, Dec, a national holiday. It is also Chrismas Day. It is not national, but usually young people celebrate the Christmas instead of Constitution.
New Year
It is on 1st, Jan. National Holiday. There is always a ceremony raising our national flag and sining national anthem at the plaza in front of the Presidential Palace.
Liberty Day
It is on 23rd, January.
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
It is usually during the late Jan and the early Feb. Chinese use lunar calendar to count the months. There will be about 2 weeks with all kinds of festivals or customs. Enjoy and don't eat too much.
Lantern Festival
It is on the fifteenth day of the first month in lunar calender. It is a full moon day. Children play lantern in the night, and people usually eat yuan-shao on this day. A small town in Tainan County, called Yen-sui, people there have a custom to play million of firecrackers and rockets in the night. This custom usually attracts thousands of visiters. In northern Taiwan, people have another custom to play flying lanterns (called sky lights). This day also means the end of the Chinese New Year period.
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