laba festival

by jason(qingzhao guo)

Chinese Festivals - Laba Festival

The last lunar month is called the month of "La" in Chinese and "Ba" means eight. Therefore, Laba Festival (La Ba Jie - 腊八节) falls on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month in Chinese calendar. It used to be a religious holiday from Buddhism, but becomes popular now among the general publics in China.

Legend goes that Sakyamuni (565 B. C.- 486 B. C. ), the founder of Buddhism, becomes Buddha on the 8th of the 12th lunar month. It is said on that day he, for searching ways of people's life, traveled thousands of miles across mountains and rivers but fell down because of hunger and thirst. A girl came to save him with a bowl of milky porridge. Sakyamuni sat in deep thought under a bodhi tree, and became Buddha. Therefore, monks in temples on that day would make "porridge for Buddha", a porridge with fragrant rice and other food grains to cherish the memory for him. The porridge is made with five food ingredients as walnut, pine nut, milky grass, persimmon and chestnut. The custom of having the specially made porridge soon became a popular culture among Chinese people and they give the porridge a name as the
festival: "Laba Congee" or "Laba Porridge".

Today the porridge is cooked in various ways. In Southern China, people put lotus seed, lotus root, etc. in the porridge; in Northwestern China, people put mutton in and, in some area, people cook noodles with bittern juice from eight vegetables called "Laba Noodle". In Beijing district, people cook the porridge and have it frozen and eat it day by day. Today in many temples, porridge is offered free for people. Whether it is noodles or porridge they cook, it is the wish of the people for health and a better life in the coming year. The congee is of course extremely healthy and delicious itself. Laba porridge is not only easy to prepare,
but also a nutritious winter food because it contains amino acids, protein, vitamins and other nutrition people need. Cooked nuts and dried fruit are good for soothing nerves, nourishing one's heart and vitality, and strengthening the spleen. Perhaps that is why it is also called babao (Eight Treasure) porridge.

by jason(qingzhao guo)
reference:http://www.simple-chinese.com/chinese-culture/chinese-festivals-laba-festival.html

The Moon Festival

The Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.

The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romatic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.

The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. Here are a few pictures of the typical moon cake.

















The picture on the moon cake box.

The moon cakes in the box.



One of the moon cakes in the box.

Winter Solstice Festival

As early as 2,500 years ago, about the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), China had determined the point of Winter Solstice by observing movements of the sun with a sundial. It is the earliest of the 24 seasonal division points. The time will be each December 21 or 22 according to the Gregorian calendar.



The Northern hemisphere on this day experiences the shortest daytime and longest nighttime. After the Winter Solstice, days will become longer and longer. As ancient Chinese thought, the yang, or muscular, positive things will become stronger and stronger after this day, so it should be celebrated.




The Winter Solstice became a festival during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and thrived in the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279). The Han people regarded Winter Solstice as a "Winter Festival", so officials would organize celebrating activities. On this day, both officials and common people would have a rest. The army was stationed in, frontier fortresses closed and business and traveling stopped. Relatives and friends presented to each other delicious food. In the Tang and Song dynasties, the Winter Solstice was a day to offer scarifies to Heaven and ancestors. Emperors would go to suburbs to worship the Heaven; while common people offered sacrifices to their deceased parents or other relatives. The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) even had the record that "Winter Solstice is as formal as the Spring Festival," showing the great importance attached to this day.




In some parts of Northern China, people eat dumpling soup on this day; while residents of some other places eat dumplings, saying doing so will keep them from
frost in the upcoming winter. But in parts of South China, the whole family will get together to have a meal made of red-bean and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and other evil things. In other places, people also eat tangyuan, a kind of stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous rice flour. The Winter Solstice rice dumplings could be used as sacrifices to ancestors, or gifts for friends and relatives. The Taiwan people even keep the custom of offering nine-layer cakes to their ancestors. They make cakes in the shape of chicken, duck, tortoise, pig, cow or sheep with glutinous rice flour and steam them on different layers of a pot. These animals all signify auspiciousness in Chinese tradition. People of the same surname or family clan gather at their ancestral temples to worship their ancestors in age order. After the sacrificial ceremony, there is always a grand banquet.


by jason(guo)
reference:http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78308.htm

Double Ninth Festival

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.



The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.




On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.



The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.



In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.

by JASON GUO
references:http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78310.htm

Hungry Ghost Festival

The 14th and 15th of the seventh lunar month
Much like Western culture's Halloween, some Eastern cultures celebrate a Fall festival where they believe the gates of hell are thrown open, releasing hungry ghosts to wander the earth in search of food and taking revenge upon those who wronged them in life. This month-long festival is known as the Hungry Ghost Festival and takes place during the 7th lunar month.

Unlike other celebrations of the dead in Eastern cultures that seek to honor dead ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival seeks to pacify the hungry ghosts, the ghosts of strangers and the un-cared-for dead. These are the ghosts of those who died by their own hands, by accidents, by drowning or hanging who have been denied entry into heaven. Angry because they are forced to dwell in hell without food or comfort, when released, they search for souls to take their place in misery.

To Taoists（道教徒） and Buddhists（佛教徒）, these evil spirits are not to be taken lightly. They are most active at night and can take many forms including: snakes, moths（蛾）, birds, foxes, wolves, and tigers. They can even appear as beautiful men or women to seduce the living. When they possess an individual by entering the body they cause illness and mental disorders.

Throughout this month, to keep the angry spirits amused, people stage street operas and other forms of public entertainment. In the past, people did not view the street operas as they were performed only for ghosts. Other rituals（典礼，仪式）are performed to help souls enter into heaven. Taoists do their best to avoid late nights away from these amusements and rituals to steer clear of the evil spirits. To appease these wandering spirits, Buddhists and Taoists burn bundles of joss sticks, paper hell money, food, and other offerings by the roadside. Communities along rivers or near the sea float lanterns in the shape of the lotus or carved from fruit or gourds in the water to guide them away from their homes. They follow the lanterns from the river bank or sea shore till they can no longer be seen. This is done to redeem the soul of those who died by drowning.

The most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts. On the 14th, a great feast would be held to honor family ancestors. Prayers and offerings would be made at family altars. On the following night, the 15th, they would feast for the hungry ghosts. Held outside under the full moon, these feasts feed the evil spirits so that they will leave the living alone and bribe（贿赂） the ancestors for luck with money and the harvest.




Edit by Shel Liang

Chinese New Year

Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries. It predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) in use at the present, which goes back only some 430 years. Basically, a calendar is a system we use to measures the passage of time, from short durations of minutes and hours, to intervals of time measured in days, months, years and centuries. These are fundamentally based on the astronomical observations of the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars. Days are measured by the duration of time of one self rotation of the earth. Months are measured by the duration of time of rotation of the moon around the earth. Years are measured by the duration of time it takes for the earth to rotate around the Sun.

Chinese New Year Days:

• 2005 Feb 9




• 2006 Jan 29




• 2007 Feb 18




• 2008 Feb 7




• 2009 Jan 26




• 2010 Feb 14




• 2011 Feb 3




• 2012 Jan 23

What is the Chinese New Year's Day in Year 2010?

February 14, 2010 is the first day of the Chinese new year - Year of the Tiger..
There are three ways to name a Chinese year:
By an animal (like a mscot). 2008 is known as the Year of the Rat.2009 is the Year of the Ox.2010 is the Year of the TigerThere are 12 animal names; so by this system, year names are repeated every 12 years. More. By its Formal Name (Stem-Branch). 2010 is the year of Geng Yin . 2009 is the Year of Ji Chou. In the 'Stem-Branch' system, the years are counted in 60-year Cycles, so that the Name of the Year is repeated every 60 years.2010 is the11-th year in the current 60-year Cycle.2009 is the 10-th year in the current 60-year Cycle. A "Cycle" is analogous to a "century" in the International Calendar system which is 100 years long. 2010 is Year 4707 in the Chinese Caledar.2009 is Year 4706 in the Chinese Calendar.

What's special about the Chinese New Year in 2006?
It was a Leap Year! Unlike the western calendar, where one extra day is added in February, one whole leap month is added in a Chinese Leap Year. Just think. If you get paid by the month, instead of working an extra day for nothing, you would get an extra month's pay !!! This time around, the Leap Month comes after the regular 7-th Month. The "Leap Second Month" begins on August 24,2006. Read more about this here And here.

When was the Chinese New Year's Day in Year 2003?
February 1, 2003. It was the first day in the Year of the Ram (sheep, goat).This is Year 4700 by Chinese calendar. When was the Chinese New Year's Day in Year 2002? February 12, 2002. It was the first day in the Year of the Horse.It is Year 4699 by Chinese calendar. For those interested in astrology, it is the year of the Black Horse.

When was the Chinese New Year's Day in Year 2001?
January 24, 2001. This was the first day in the Year of the Snake.This is Year 4698.
[Some says this is Year 4638, which is also plausible. Others claim this year to be either 4699 or 4399, which are almost certainly wrong.] What's special about the Chinese New Year in 2001?
It was a Leap Year! Unlike the western calendar, where one extra day is added in February, one whole leap month is added in a Chinese Leap Year. Just think. If you get paid by the month, instead of working an extra day for nothing, you would get an extra month's pay !!!
This time around, the Leap Month comes after the regular 4-th Month. The "Leap 4-th Month" begins on May 23, 2001. More about this...

12 Animals
Each year is also designated by one of the 12 Animals For instance, 2005 is Year of Rooster; 2006 is Year of Dog; and 2007 is the Year of Pig. 2008 is the Year of the Rat
This system is extremely practical. A child does not have to learn a new answer to the question, "How old are you?" in each new year. Old people often lose track of their age, because they are rarely asked about their present age. Every one just have to remember that he or she was born in the "Year of the Dog" or whatever.
Since 2008 is the Year of the Rat, any one who was born in the Year of the Rat is either 1 or 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 or 97 years old. When 2009 comes, the person is still born in the Year of the Rat. but he/she is 2,14, 26, 38, 50, 62, 74, 86 or 98 yeas old.Thus, instead of asking the question "How old are you?", ask the person "In which (animal) year were you born?" More about this.

New Year's decoration at the front of the house

Colorful calligraphy called 'chun lian' (Spring couplet) are as popular as those for Halloween or Christmas.
What's this logo at top right corner of this web page?
The Chinese word for "Spring." The Chinese calls the New Year's Celebration the "Spring Festival." This particular calligraphy is a reproduction of the work by one of master calligrapher Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) who wrote it more than 600 years ago. More on calligraphy
Are there Chinese Graphics analogous to Christmas cards?
There are colorful posters!

What is the Chinese word for 'luck'?
Posters with the word 'luck' is often seen around the New Year's. Make one yourself. Solar/Lunar calendar
For monthly calendar of 2010 and 2009(designed by Mr. Meng Zhuo of CWR Univ.)
2009 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2010 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

What is the story about the animal of the year?
In Chinese calendar, one of the scheme for counting years is a 12-year cycle. One counts from Year 1,2,3,... up to 12. Then starts over from Year 1. (In modern mathematics, this is modulo 12.) Instead of inventing 12 special symbols for this purpose, 12 animals are used to represent these 12 years. Rabbit (hare), for example, is the 4-th year of the cycle.

Chinese dragons

For more about Chinese dragons, go to the Dragon page
Fireworks & skywriting
For a bit of fun, look at this. [Chinese BIG5] [Chinese GB] [English]
How is Chinese New Year's Day determined?
In one sentence, the Chinese New Year is the second New Moon after the winter solstice.
It is based strictly on astronomical observations, and has nothing to do with the Pope, emperors, animals or myths. Due to its scientific and mathematical nature, we can easily and precisely calculate backward or forward for thousands of years.
One explanation by Rudy Chiang
Allen Tsai's site has more details: about Year 2010 and
Chinese Zodiac Chinese Zodiac
Related Websites
The Japanese word for "New Year's Greetings" is Kinga Shinnen.
2010 is the Year Heisei 22 in Japan. Heisei is the current emperor. Japan is the only country in the world which still number the calender years starting from the ascession of its emperors.
Other Links
Some of these sites may be worth a visit. More facts than you ever want or need. But interesting!

Reference: http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html

guys

Guys, I hope you guys will interest in these chinese festival. Especially Chinese Lunar New Year, I haven't gone back home at Chinese Lunar New Year for about 2 years. Wow, I might plan to go back home at the holiday coming.

Hope you guys will enjoy our post of Chinese Festival.

Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, has had a history of more than 2,000 years. It is usually in June in the Gregorian calendar.


There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and one of China's earliest poets. In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin. However, he was opposed by aristocrats headed by Zi Lan, and later deposed and exiled by King Huai. In his exiled days, he still cared much for his country and people and composed immortal poems including Li Sao (The Lament), Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions) and Jiu Ge (Nine Songs), which had far-reaching influences. In 278 BC, he heard the news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu's capital, so he finished his last piece Huai Sha (Embracing Sand) and plunged himself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a large stone. The day happened to be the 5th of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar. After his death, the people of Chu crowded to the bank of the river to pay their respects to him. The fishermen sailed their boats up and down the river to look for his body. People threw into the water zongzi (pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves) and eggs to divert possible fish or shrimp from attacking his body. An old doctor poured a jug of reaglar wine (Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar) into the water, hoping to turn all aquatic beasts drunk. That's why people later followed the customs such as dragon boat racing, eating zongzi and drinking realgar wine on that day.

Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival, held all over the country. As the gun is fired, people will see racers in dragon-shaped canoes pulling the oars harmoniously and hurriedly, accompanied by rapid drums, speeding toward their destination. Folk tales say the game originates from the activities of seeking Qu Yuan's body, but experts, after painstaking and meticulous research, conclude that dragon boat racing is a semi-religious, semi-entertaining program from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). In the following thousands of years, the game spread to Japan, Vietnam and Britain as well as China's Taiwan and Hong Kong. Now dragon boat racing has developed into an aquatic sports item which features both Chinese tradition and modern sporting spirit. In 1980, it was listed into the state sports competition programs and has since been held every year. The award is called "Qu Yuan Cup."


Zongzi is an essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival. It is said that people ate them in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). In early times, it was only glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or other plant leaves and tied with colored thread, but now the fillings are more diversified, including jujube and bean paste, fresh meat, and ham and egg yolk. If time permits, people will soak glutinous rice, wash reed leaves and wrap up zongzi themselves. Otherwise, they will go to shops to buy whatever stuff they want. The custom of eating zongzi is now popular in North and South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian nations.

On Dragon Boat Festival, parents also need to dress their children up with a perfume pouch. They first sew little bags with colorful silk cloth, then fill the bags with perfumes or herbal medicines, and finally string them with silk threads. The perfume pouch will be hung around the neck or tied to the front of a garment as an ornament. They are said to be able to ward off evil.

jason
reference:traditional chinese festival:Dragon Boat Festival, http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78316.htm
http://www.chinapage.com/quyuan5.html

Double Seventh Festival—Chinese Valentines Day

The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
With the help of celestial cattle, the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called Qi Xi (Double Seventh).
Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220). Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD371-420) mention the festival, while records from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, special articles for the Qi Xi were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.
Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However, the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, in particular, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentines Day in China. As a result, owners of flower shops, bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.

Edited by Shawn CHU

Reference: http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78315.htm

Need more information about Traditional Chinese Festival?

Please visit http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78131.htm

CHINESE NEW YEAR

• Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
• The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
• New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
• The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.
• The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.

chinese music Spring Festival Overture

Useful and Interesting Information

Abacus - An abacus is a calculator, rectangular in shape. It has an outside frame with sliding beads strung on thirteen wires or wooden slats. The abacus was used widely before the nine plus "O" counting method was adopted. The Chinese have used it for hundreds of years and still use it today. You will see it used in some Chinese shops. It can somewhat confusing for the observer as the seasoned user quickly slides the beads back and forth, doing the calculation quickly on the abacus. An abacus can be purchased very inexpensively at any Chinese department store complete with an instruction booklet which shows you how to use this ancient calculator.

Acupuncture - Acupuncture is the centuries old Chinese method of piercing the body with needles to relieve aches and pains. Chinese legend holds that over 5,000 years ago a soldier was struck with an arrow. He felt a numbing sensation in a different part of his body. The Chinese tell that from this incident came the art of acupuncture. This method treats malaria, high blood pressure, appendicitis and, acupuncture is also used as anaesthesia. The acupuncturist is trained to insert needles painlessly into certain points of the body. The needles are placed in very specific points, depending on the sickness being treated. The instruments and rubber dolls, complete with the proper "points" outlined in colour, are sold in Hong Kong. It takes great skill and years of training to become an acupuncturist.

Beijing - Beijing is the official Chinese Mandarin name for the capital city of the Peoples Republic of China, Peking.

Buddha - Buddha refers to Prince Siddhartha Guatama, an Indian prince who lived more than 2,500 years ago. After years of study and contemplation, Siddhartha founded the Buddhist religion, based on the "Eightfold Path". Buddha means "The Enlightened One", and by following the teachings of Buddha a person may overcome the craving of earthly pleasures and become enlightened. These paths include the understanding of the Four Noble Truths, correct thoughts, correct speech, proper actions, the right work and efforts, the right state of mind and the ability to concentrate. Buddhism has remained a simple and democratic religion through the centuries. This may explain how quickly it was accepted by the working people of Asia. There are numerous Buddhist places of worship in Hong Kong and Lord Buddha's birthday is a very important celebration for the Chinese.

Cantonese - Cantonese is a "spoken" language called a dialect. It is based on a tone approach to speech, and there are up to ten tones in this language which is spoken by millions of Chinese. The official language of China is called Mandarin but most of the residents of Hong Kong speak Cantonese.

Chinese Food - Chinese food tastes very good and is also nutritious. The food is prepared with great care and cooked quickly so as not to lose its vitamin content. Vegetables are finely chopped or diced and because of the quick cooking, retain their fresh taste and garden colours. Spices and sauces such as soy, oyster, sesame and aniseed are used freely in Chinese cooking. The Chinese do not waste anything. Every stalk and bone is used for some tasty dish. Different provinces reflect their eating habits by the particular spicy, bland or colourful food they prepare. Hong Kong is an excellent place to try all types of Chinese food, including sharks fin soup, snake meat and sea slugs!

Chopsticks - The Chinese eat their food with chopsticks. Chopsticks are a pair of slender sticks made of wood, ivory, bamboo or plastic. It does not take long to learn to use chopsticks, just patience. Trial and error is the best method of mastering the sticks.

Dragon - The dragon is a mythical monster in fairy tales and legends. For a long time the dragon stood for evil. Tales of serpent monsters roaming the earth devouring everything in their paths have been recorded for centuries. However, the Chinese adopted the dragon as a symbol of nobility. Until 1912, the dragon was the national emblem of China. Many Chinese consider the dragon a god, one to be worshipped. Therefore, dragons appear in every area of Chinese culture. They decorate colourful lanterns at festival time, shop fronts at Chinese New Year and are delicately embroidered on silk clothing and wall hangings. The dragon has always played a major role in Chinese literature. Children's books are full of the legendary appearances of dragons and, frequently the dragon is found helping a poor or unfortunate victim overcome his enemies. During Dragon Boat Festival, giant heads of the serpent, decorated with fierce markings are painted on the front of the boat, helping the crew to victory. Dragons have always played a busy role in the life of the Chinese people.

Dynasty - A dynasty is a group of rulers from the same family who succeed one another in power. This group usually has great wealth and power for several generations. China is the home of great dynasties, dating back centuries. This form of rule in China ended with the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty in 1912.

Eggs - "100 year old eggs", is a term referring to aged eggs, by no means 100 years old! The eggs sold in the markets and restaurants are usually a few days old. They are duck eggs which are soaked for a few days in a solution of tea leaves, lime, soda and rock salt. These eggs are eaten with ginger and are considered a delicacy among the Chinese.

Ferries - Ferries are a vital part of Hong Kong life. Hong Kong, being an island, is separated from Kowloon by the famous harbour. The boat ferries provide cheap, efficient transportation for the millions of daily travellers to and from Hong Kong and the neighbouring islands. The most famous is the Star Ferry which runs between Hong Kong, Star Ferry Pier and Ocean Terminal, Kowloon side. Thousands of people take the quick ride to avoid the horrific Hong Kong traffic.

Fung Shui - "Fung Shui", translated as, the influences of wind and water, is the Chinese science of "reading" nature in order to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. By the twelfth century, fung shui played an important role in all aspects of Chinese life, from birth till death. A compass with a magnetic centre and seasonal markings is used by an accomplished fung shui artist to choose the site of a person's new home or burial place. This is done to avoid offending demons, invisible ones of course, who inhabit the earth. Offending nature will cause great ills to fall upon you and your descendants, according to Chinese belief. Now, this practice is most popularly applied to graves. If a grave is placed in the wrong area or facing in the wrong direction, ill fortune will follow the family members of the deceased. A fung shui specialist is often called to a building site to assure the builder of the correct direction of the structure.

Gwai-lo-(female, gwai-paw) - This is the name given to Caucasian men by the Chinese. The term means "Foreign Devil" in Chinese. In years past, gwai-lo was considered an unpleasant name to call someone, but it is now an accepted word without causing bad feelings.

Ginseng - Ginseng is a plant from China. It has an aromatic root which is used in medicine by the Chinese. The Chinese believe it cures many ills. A favourite way of staying healthy is to drink ginseng tea.

Harbour - Hong Kong has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. It can be approached from east to west and with its depth of 28 - 36 ft., ships of almost any size can enter the harbour with ease. The harbour is one of the most important elements of Hong Kong's success. The early and still thriving economy of Hong Kong was based on mercantile shipping. The perfect harbour provided this base. There are over 2,200 junks and lighters to load and unload cargo from the massive freighters. Scurrying among the ships are the ferries, taking people to and from Hong Kong, Kowloon and the over-islands. The harbour is often called one of the wonders of the world.

Incense - Incense is a substance which produces a sweet aroma when burned. The Chinese use it during most festivals and burn it in honour of the gods and in memory of deceased family members and, for good luck.

Jade - Jade, the green stone, is sold everywhere in Hong Kong. From bangle bracelets and images of Buddha, costing only a few dollars, to expensive carved dragons, jade is a popular item to the Chinese and visitors alike. The inexpensive articles are not jade, but are soapstone. Real jade is expensive and sold in quality shops. The emperors of China held jade in great esteem and adorned their homes, places of worship and themselves with it. Jade is still considered a precious stone by the Chinese and all types and qualities can be found in Hong Kong.

Junk - A junk is a Chinese sailing vessel. They are easily recognized by their bamboo sails and flat fronts. The Chinese have been using junks for centuries and little has changed in the original design. Marco Polo wrote of the Chinese junk in his log, and commented on the clever Chinese who had invented the first ships to have watertight compartments. He saw one junk with thirteen compartments and the fisherman explained to him that if water came into on compartment, they would seal that compartment off, thus cutting the leak and saving the boat. A junk usually has three sails made from sewing strips of light bamboo into straw. There is a foresail, a mainsail and in the stern, a mizzen sail.

Kites - Kites are, and always have been, an intricate part of Chinese culture. It takes many years to become a master kitemaker, although most Chinese boys and girls learn to make their own kites at an early age. Traditionally, kites appear mostly at festival times, especially in the late autumn at the Festival of Climbing the Heights. On this night, people take their beautiful kites to high places and fly them into the night when they attach small lanterns to the kites. These glowing spectacles rise high into the night and the owners try to knock each others kites out of the air. The kites are quite complicated to make, but turn into lovely butterflies, birds, flowers and animals. Kites can be purchased very inexpensively in most stores in Hong Kong.

Kung Hei Fat Choy - Kung Hei Fat Choy is the translated expression for "Happy New Year". During the Chinese New Year, you will hear it repeated by one and all and see it written on colourful banners on shops, banks and - well, everything!

Lanterns - Lanterns have been part of Chinese life for centuries. Chinese emperors had lanterns hanging in their gardens, on boats, in their homes and temples. This tradition continues to the present day. The colourful lamps appear throughout the Chinese year, especially at festival times. At the end of the Chinese New Year celebration, on the fifteenth day of the first moon, the Festival of Lanterns takes place. Silk, paper and plastic lanterns in round, square and various other shapes are paraded through the streets and hills of Hong Kong. Lanterns on wheels, animals, birds, flowers, boats, every shape imaginable appear in shops and department stores. In the autumn, another festival of light is held and the beaches and hilltops are aglow with soft light. The lanterns are very inexpensive to buy and apart from the actual use of lighting them, they make beautiful decorations.

Lion Dance - A lion dance is performed at most Chinese festivals. The beating of drums is the background music for the fearsome dancers. Two people wear a colourful paper-mache lion head and with coordination and skill they move through the motions, expressing the feelings of the lion at the time. The lion may be bashful, playful or even angry and the steps of the performers convey this to the audience. The dance of the lion has been performed for centuries in China.

Mahjong - Mahjong is an ancient Chinese board game played with plastic or ivory tiles. Each player receives thirteen pieces and when play starts a great clattering is heard from the shifting of the tiles on the board. Mahjong is one of the most popular pastimes of the Chinese. The tiles can be heard smashing long into the night.

New Year - The Chinese celebrate their New Year according to the Lunar calendar. This is the most important of festivals. The New Year is a time for house cleaning and the settling of all debts. Family and friends gather for the festivities which include firecrackers, elaborate food, the exchange of money in small red packets and the honouring of various gods. Most shops are closed for a few days during the New Year.

Paper Cutting - Paper was invented by the Chinese during the Han dynasty, (207 BC - 220 AD), and historians believe the art of paper cutting may have started about this time. For centuries, Chinese girls have learned this art as a natural part of their girlhood education. The paper cuts were used to decorate the somewhat drab homes of the time. Thin paper is used and the subject matter is varied. Fierce dragons, gentle flowers, young maidens, birds and the gods are among the topics cut, always symbolizing good fortune and luck. Paper cuts are very inexpensive and can be purchased at any of the Chinese department stores and shops in Hong Kong.

Rickshaw - A rickshaw is a wooden seat balanced on two wheels and pulled by the strength of one man. The rickshaw is quickly disappearing in Hong Kong. It seems unbelievable that in days past, the rickshaw was a useful means of transport. People were pulled up to the peak and all around the island, in every type of weather. Now, the drivers wait for tourists at the Star Ferry Pier as this mode of transportation is long out of date.

Silk - Silk, the luxurious cloth, was discovered, or invented by the Chinese. Many centuries ago, there lived an emperor named Huang Ti, called "The Yellow Emperor". His wife, Empress Lei- Tsu, discovered that by unwinding the cocoon of a worm that ate mulberry plants, a shining strong thread could be taken out. She and some of her maidens wove the thread and invented the fabric of silk. The worms were called "silk worms" and soon they were raised and harvested for the purpose of producing silk. This discovery remains with us to this day when the Chinese are still considered the finest silk merchants in the world. Silk of all colours and qualities can be purchased in Hong Kong.

Typhoon - A typhoon is a tropical storm with high winds. The word means "Big Wind" and Hong Kong is often affected by these fierce storms. Typhoons most often occur between July and September. The news and weather reports track a storm's movement and there is usually plenty of warning before the typhoon strikes. Signals are hoisted at various points around Hong Kong indicating the intensity of the approaching storm. Any telephone directory has an explanation and further information on typhoons printed in the first part of the book.

Writing (Chinese writing) - The Chinese language, when spoken, can vary greatly from province to province. In some cases, a man from one area of China cannot even understand the language of a fellow country man from another area. However, all Chinese read and comprehend the same written language. Chinese writing dates back at least 3,500 years. The Chinese use symbols called characters, made with strokes of a pen or brush. About 3,000 symbols are needed by any person for everyday living. It takes the knowledge of at minimum 7,000 characters to read a newspaper. Because of the type of drawing needed to write in Chinese, it is considered an art and children learn to drill in practice at a very young age.

Yin and Yang - In ancient times, the Chinese explained the balance of the world in terms of the Yin and the Yang. They believed there to be two forces behind all things in life. The bright force, full of warmth and light, is called the Yang and the other dark, cold and solid force is called the Yin. These two forces are always opposing each other and when one or the other dominates, there is confusion and the world is out of sorts. The earth, heavy and dark, is the Yin while the light, air and sun are the Yang. Maintaining and balancing of the Yin and Yang became part of everyday Chinese life and to this day, the Chinese seek to keep a moderate level in all areas of existence.

Zodiac - The Chinese put great faith in the stars and their lunar calendar is based on the movement and position of the heavens, the Zodiac. Each year is titled "Year of the ..." particular zodiac animal with certain animals representing luck, wisdom, laziness, strong character and so on.

Birthday of Buddha

Lord Buddha's birthday is another springtime festival. It is observed on the eighth day of the Fourth Moon. Legend has it that at the moment of Buddha's birth, nine dragons spat on the water. Buddha is the sacred name given to a man called Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of the Buddhist religion. He is called Buddha by his followers, which means "The Enlightened One".

Buddha lived about 2,500 years ago. Although the facts of his life are scarce, his followers recorded his teachings. He believed in the search for one's self. The Four Noble Truths are the core of his teachings. First is the noble truth of unhappyness in life, then the truth of the cause of unhappyness, and the noble truth of the way to stop unhappyness, and finally, the noble truth of that which leads to the end of unhappyness. Compassion is the significant base of Buddhist life.

There are many Buddhists in Hong Kong and many temples and shrines. On the birthday of Buddha, also called the Festival of Ten Thousand Buddhas, his religious followers pray for the washing away of sin and the attainment of wisdom and peace.

Cheng Chau Festival (Festival of the Bun Hills)

The Cheung Chau Festival begins on the eighth day of the Fourth Moon and lasts for four days. It is one of the most unusual and dangerous of all Chinese festivals. Four days of religious rites, Chinese operas and the burning of paper clothing as gifts, is supposed to make ghosts and edgy spirits happy. Hong Kong takes on a party like atmosphere, with processions and celebrations at every turn.

Huge structures towering in the sky have been built and covered to the top with bread buns. In the past, a signal was given and the young scrambled up the towers, picking as many buns as they could hold. It is believed the more buns you grabbed, the more good luck blessings you received. The date and time of this unique ceremony are announced a week before.

The processions and parades held during this time are spectacles of colour. People dress up as legendary figures, ride on flowered floats and walk on stilts. The young play a major role in the processions with children perched above the crowd in makeup and costumes. They almost seem suspended in air.

Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival Yuan Xiao Jie [Yuan Hsiao] [元宵节] Festival Page

The Lantern Festival, which occurs on the 15-th day of the First Month of the Chinese Year, marks the end of the New Year's Holidays. In 2005, this festival day falls on February 23. In 2006, it falls on February 12. In 2007, it falls on March 4. In 2008, it falls on February 21. In 2009, it falls on February 9. In 2010, it falls o February 28.

Lantern Riddles Lanterns are everywhere. A most interesting tradition is the posting of riddles called 'Lantern Riddles.' Riddles are written on pieces of paper and posted on lanterns or wall. Any one solving the riddle is awarded a prize. Riddle based on Tang poetry

Poetry about Lantern Festival Lantern Festival poetry

Shenhuo Celebration of Shenhuo Xinzi Acrobatics Acrobatics in Northern China Shenhuo Facial Makeup Shenhuo Face Paint

[元宵] Yuanxiao is the special food for the Lantern Festival. It is believed that Yuanxiao is named after a palace maid, Yuanxiao, of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty. Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing. And the Festival is named after the famous dumpling. It is very easy to cook - simply dump them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes - and eaten as a desert.

Festival Page

Reference: http://www.chinapage.com/festival/lantern.html