Spring Festival in Taiwan
Spring Festival is a holiday in Taiwan.
When is Spring Festival in Taiwan
Spring Festival is celebrated on 22, January, 2023 in Taiwan.
About Spring Festival in Taiwan
The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the most important holidays in Taiwan. It is celebrated based on the lunar calendar and usually falls between late January and mid-February. The festival marks the beginning of the new year and is a time for family reunions, cultural traditions, and festivities.
Preparations for the Spring Festival begin weeks in advance. People clean their homes thoroughly to sweep away any bad luck from the previous year and make way for good fortune. They also decorate their houses with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cutouts, which symbolize happiness, prosperity, and good luck.
The festival officially kicks off on New Year’s Eve with a family reunion dinner. Family members gather to enjoy a lavish feast, which typically includes dishes such as fish, dumplings, spring rolls, and various other traditional delicacies. The meal holds great significance as it signifies unity, harmony, and the hope for abundance in the coming year.
During the Spring Festival, people also participate in various traditional activities. One popular tradition is giving out red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money to children and unmarried adults. It is believed that these red envelopes bring good luck and blessings for the year ahead. Another common practice is visiting temples to pray for good fortune and prosperity.
The Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Spring Festival celebrations, is another highlight of the holiday. People gather to admire beautifully crafted lanterns, which come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Lantern riddles are also a part of the celebration, where people solve riddles written on lanterns for fun and prizes.
In addition to these traditional customs, Taiwan also hosts various cultural events and performances during the Spring Festival. Lion and dragon dances, traditional music and dance performances, and fireworks displays are common sights throughout the holiday.
The Spring Festival in Taiwan is a time of joy, togetherness, and cultural pride. It brings people closer to their roots, strengthens family bonds, and allows for the celebration of traditional customs and values.
History of Spring Festival in Taiwan
The Spring Festival holiday, also known as Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, has a long history in Taiwan. Here is a brief overview of its history:
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Ancient Origins: The Spring Festival holiday can be traced back to ancient Chinese traditions and customs. It is believed to have originated from the mythological beast “Nian” that would terrorize villages during the winter. People discovered that loud noises, bright lights, and the color red could scare away the beast, leading to the practice of setting off firecrackers, hanging lanterns, and decorating with red during the festival.
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Arrival in Taiwan: The Spring Festival holiday was brought to Taiwan by Chinese immigrants during the 17th and 18th centuries. These immigrants, mainly from southeastern China, brought their customs, traditions, and beliefs with them, including the celebration of the Lunar New Year.
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Cultural Integration: Over time, the Spring Festival holiday in Taiwan integrated with local Taiwanese customs and traditions. It became a unique blend of Chinese and Taiwanese culture, incorporating elements such as Taiwanese cuisine, local customs, and dialects.
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Japanese Influence: During the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), Taiwan was under Japanese rule. The Japanese government attempted to suppress Chinese cultural practices, including the Spring Festival holiday, and instead promoted their own New Year celebrations. However, many Taiwanese continued to celebrate the Lunar New Year in secret, preserving their traditions.
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Post-War Revival: After World War II, when Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, the Spring Festival holiday experienced a revival. The government actively promoted the celebration of Chinese New Year as a way to reconnect with Chinese culture and traditions. It became an official public holiday, and people were encouraged to participate in traditional activities such as family gatherings, temple visits, lion and dragon dances, and fireworks.
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Modern Celebration: Today, the Spring Festival holiday in Taiwan is a major event and one of the most important holidays of the year. It is a time when families come together, often traveling long distances to reunite and celebrate. Traditional customs, such as cleaning the house, offering prayers to ancestors, exchanging red envelopes with money, and enjoying festive meals, are still widely practiced. Additionally, various cultural activities, parades, and performances are organized throughout the country to celebrate the holiday.
Overall, the Spring Festival holiday in Taiwan has evolved and adapted over the years, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese and Taiwanese people. It continues to be a time of joy, reunion, and celebration for the entire nation.
How is Spring Festival celebrated in Taiwan
Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Taiwan. Here is how it is celebrated:
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Family Reunion: Similar to other Chinese communities, Spring Festival in Taiwan is a time for family gatherings. People travel back to their hometowns to spend time with their loved ones. Family members from different parts of the country or even abroad come together to celebrate the festival.
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Reunion Dinner: On the eve of the Lunar New Year, families have a lavish dinner together. This dinner is considered the most important meal of the year, and it usually includes traditional dishes such as fish, dumplings, and sticky rice cake.
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Red Envelopes: Giving and receiving red envelopes, known as “hongbao” in Mandarin, is a common tradition during Spring Festival in Taiwan. Elders give red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good luck and blessings for the upcoming year.
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Temple Visits: Many people in Taiwan visit temples during the Spring Festival to pray for good fortune and blessings. They make offerings, burn incense, and participate in various religious rituals to seek divine blessings for the new year.
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Fireworks and Lanterns: Fireworks and lanterns are an integral part of the Spring Festival celebrations in Taiwan. Fireworks displays are held in various cities, and people light firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. Lantern festivals are also organized, where people release lanterns into the sky, symbolizing the release of worries and the welcoming of a new beginning.
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Lion and Dragon Dances: Lion and dragon dances are performed during the Spring Festival to bring good luck and chase away evil spirits. These vibrant and lively performances can be seen in temples, streets, and even in shopping malls.
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New Year Markets: Temporary markets known as “New Year Markets” are set up across Taiwan during the Spring Festival. These markets offer a wide range of goods, including traditional foods, snacks, decorations, and clothing. People visit these markets to shop for festive items and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
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Traditional Activities: Various traditional activities are organized during the Spring Festival in Taiwan, such as the game of “Bai-Bai” (a gambling game with dice), the lion-head game (where participants try to hit a lion’s head with a stick to win prizes), and the “Yan Shui Fireworks Festival” (a firework display where participants wear protective gear and brave the fireworks).
Overall, Spring Festival in Taiwan is a time of joy, family togetherness, and celebration. It is a time to honor traditions, pay respect to ancestors, and welcome the new year with hope and positivity.
Dates
Spring Festival will be celebrated in Taiwan on 2023-01-22, 2023-01-23, 2023-01-24, 2024-02-10, 2024-02-11, 2024-02-12, 2025-01-29, 2025-01-30, 2025-01-31, 2026-02-17, 2026-02-18, 2026-02-19, 2027-02-06, 2027-02-07, 2027-02-08 in the comming years.
