Discover the main festivals that mark the Asian calendar

Asian festivals are key to the region’s rich culture and traditions. They are filled with history, spiritual beliefs, and vibrant customs.

These traditional celebrations are tied to the lunar calendar. They offer a mix of food, family time, and community events.

For example, the Lunar New Year is a big deal in China. It lasts fifteen days and ends with the Lantern Festival. In 2024, it’s the year of the dragon, adding more meaning as it symbolizes strength and luck.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in September is another big event. It’s all about family and moon worship.

These festivals keep old customs alive and connect people to their heritage, whether they’re at home or abroad.

Traditional celebrations happen all year, like the Songkran Water Festival in April and the Loy Krathong lantern festival in November. Each event is vital in keeping the spirit of Asian heritage alive.

The National Museum of Asian Art has over thirteen thousand Chinese art pieces, showing the deep traditions behind these festivals.

Learning about these festivals lets us see the diverse and rich culture of Asia. Each one is a special time that brings people together and keeps cultural identity strong.

Lunar new year: The grand celebration

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a big deal in Asian traditions. It welcomes spring and a new lunisolar year.

his big event lasts for fifteen days, from the evening before the first day of the year to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day.

This festival is all about family reunion, good luck, and coming together. Homes are filled with red decorations for luck, and families have a big dinner. This dinner shows harmony and fortune.

In places with many Overseas Chinese, like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and in the US, UK, and Australia, the celebration is big.

The 2024 Lunar Year is the Year of the Dragon. This symbol means power, luck, and health in the Chinese zodiac.

There will be many events, like the Westchester Association of Chinese Americans’ celebration on February 3rd at Purchase College.

Libraries and museums will also celebrate the Lunar New Year. They will have traditional arts, crafts, and shows. The Chinese New Year parade in Manhattan’s Chinatown is a big highlight.

Webinars and museum exhibits will let people dive into this big celebration.

They will show off beautiful Chinese art and tell the story of the festival. This story goes back to the Warring States period and the Han dynasty.

As the new moon comes, the Spring Festival starts. People eat sweet glutinous rice balls and kids carry lanterns.

The Chinese lunar calendar guides the Lunar New Year traditions. It helps families around the world come together.

Diwali: The festival of lights

Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights and is a big Hindu celebration. It lasts five days and starts the new year in the Hindu calendar.

It usually happens in October or November, after the harvest.

In cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai, Diwali turns streets into bright spectacles at night. The sky lights up with fireworks, showing the festival’s grandeur.

The Festival of Lights honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance. Families clean their homes and decorate with lamps or diyas. These symbols welcome blessings into their homes.

People wear new clothes and make offerings to Lakshmi. Enjoying fireworks, feasts with sweets, and visiting loved ones are key parts of the festival.

Diwali is celebrated worldwide in places with many Hindus, like Singapore and Houston. In India, it’s marked with big fireworks on the streets. But in other places, it might be celebrated in smaller gatherings with traditional food and sparklers.

Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists, including Newar Buddhists, observe Diwali. It’s a festival that brings people together, blending different religious practices and customs. Diwali’s timing is based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

In 2024, Diwali will run from October 30 to November 3. It includes various activities like lighting diyas, performing puja, and enjoying feasts. Some Indian Christians might not join in, but the festival’s message of light over darkness is universal.

Diwali is more than a religious event; it’s a cultural and seasonal festival. It involves lighting diyas, performing puja, and enjoying feasts. The festival’s main theme is the victory of light over darkness, shared by many cultures and religions.

For those wanting to improve their finances during Diwali, having a solid financial plan is key. You can learn more about this at this guide. It offers tips on setting financial goals and saving automatically.

Diwali brings excitement, community, and joy as families gather to welcome a new year. It’s filled with hope and prosperity.

Mid-autumn festival: A time for family reunion

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the moon festival or Mooncake Festival, is a big deal in East and Southeast Asia.

It happens on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This festival has a long history, over 3,000 years old.

Families come together to enjoy the biggest moon of the year. This symbolizes unity and completeness.

They share Mooncakes, tasty pastries filled with nuts, lotus root paste, and meat. These treats show the importance of family and good luck.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang made the festival more popular in the early Tang dynasty.

People worship the Moon Goddess, Chang’e, and carry lanterns for luck. These lanterns bring a magical touch to the celebrations.

Many countries like Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore celebrate this festival too. Each country has its own way of doing it. In China, it can turn into a three-day holiday, or even eight days if it falls on October 1st.

People enjoy family dinners, moon worship, and osmanthus wine.

They also make and show off festival lanterns, especially in Guangdong and Hong Kong. In some places, Kongming lanterns are used to make wishes, adding to the magic.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a special time for family, thanks, and looking forward to good things. It’s a festival of coming together and expressing gratitude. It’s a beloved event for millions who celebrate these traditions.

Qingming festival: Honoring ancestors

The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, happens every year on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox.

This is usually between April 4 and April 6. It started over 2,500 years ago as the Cold Food Festival to honor Jie Zitui. Now, it’s a day of deep cultural remembrance.

On Qingming, families go to their ancestors’ graves. They clean tombstones, offer food, burn incense, and sometimes fly kites. These acts connect the living to the dead, showing respect and keeping family ties strong.

Qingming means more than just remembering the past. It became a public holiday in mainland China in 2008.

Now, eating qingtuan, green dumplings, is a big part of the celebration. Even though traditions have changed, like using online memorials, the core of the festival stays the same.

Those who can’t visit their ancestors’ graves can still take part in Tomb Sweeping Day.

They keep the connection and respect alive. Different places have their own ways to celebrate, like playing Cuju, a game like soccer, and enjoying spring flowers.

The festival celebrates nature’s rebirth and spring’s energy.

It’s a time for family fun and being outdoors before starting spring plowing. It’s a day for remembering the past and enjoying the new season together.

Dragon boat festival: Commemorating Qu Yuan

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is a key Chinese traditional event. It takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This festival honors the life and death of Qu Yuan, a famous poet and statesman who died in 278 BCE.

Since 2008, it’s a public holiday in China. The festival brings together many traditions that show the rich culture of the society.

Dragon boat racing is a big part of it. Teams of up to 80 rowers race in boats that are 40 to 100 feet long.

Another important tradition is eating zongzi, sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.

This tradition comes from villagers trying to save Qu Yuan by throwing rice into the river. The festival also includes drinking realgar wine and performing rituals to keep evil spirits away.

The festival is celebrated on different dates each year, like June 7, June 25, June 14, and June 3. In 2009, it was added to UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It’s known as “Poets’ Day” and reminds us of loyalty, patriotism, and community unity.

Asian Calendar: festivals that define the year

The Asian cultural calendar is filled with festivals that show deep traditions, cycles of nature, and historical importance. These festivals give us a peek into the cultures that celebrate them. They mark the flow of life all year round.

Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is a big deal in China, Korea, Vietnam, and other Asian countries.

It starts with Chinese New Year’s Eve and is highly awaited. The festival includes a 4-hour Spring Festival Gala with singing, dancing, and comedy.

The Lantern Festival is another big event in the Asian calendar. It’s on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month and is very important for the Han people in China. The Qingming Festival, or Pure Brightness Festival, is also big, happening on April 5th. It’s about visiting graves to honor ancestors.

• Chinese New Year’s Eve: Total vacation days: 8
• Lantern Festival: Unique cultural showcases, such as lantern displays
• Qingming Festival: Total vacation days: 3

The Dragon Boat Festival is a key event in Chinese culture, on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. It honors the poet Qu Yuan with boat races and the making of sticky rice dumplings called zongzi.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It’s all about family coming together and eating mooncakes.

The Ghost Festival happens in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Families prepare food and burn incense to calm the spirits.

The Winter Solstice Festival, the shortest day of the year, is celebrated with foods like dumplings.

1. Dragon Boat Festival: Total vacation days: 1
2. Mid-Autumn Festival: Total vacation days: 3
3. Monthly Labor Day: Total vacation days: 5

The Asian cultural calendar shows the yearly cycle of life through its festivals. It highlights family, respect, and joy in different cultures.

Chuseok: Korean harvest festival

Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving, is a big harvest festival.

It happens on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. This usually falls in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. It’s a three-day festival that focuses on family, rituals, games, and giving gifts.

Chuseok honors ancestors with big ceremonies and sharing lots of food. It’s a time to come together and celebrate the harvest.

Chuseok and the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival both happen on the same day from 2015 to 2021.

They both celebrate family, being thankful, and the harvest. But Chuseok has its own special Korean traditions.

Chuseok has been a big holiday in South Korea for almost two centuries. It’s a time to enjoy traditional foods like songpyeon (rice cake), Japchae (glass noodles), Jeon (pancakes), and Galbijjim (braised short ribs).

People enjoy games like Tuho and Neolttwigi, dances like Ganggangsullae, and traditional wrestling called Ssireum. Chuseok is a lively festival that brings the community together.

In 2023, Chuseok is from September 28–30. It’s a chance for families to come together, celebrate the harvest, and enjoy Korean traditions. Popular gifts include Korean Spam Gift Sets, fruit baskets, and meat sets.

Chuseok is a time to say thanks, celebrate abundance, and honor our ancestors.

Songkran: Thai new year water festival

Songkran, the Thai New Year, is a big deal in Southeast Asia. It happens every year from April 13th to 15th. On Phuket island, it starts a day early, on April 12th. It’s a time for people from all over to come together and have fun.

The festival is famous for huge water fights, making it the biggest in the world. Bangkok is a key place for these events. Khaosan Road is known for its wild parties and water fights.

Siam in Bangkok has traditional dancing and live music. Silom Road is popular for its LGBTQ-friendly parties and big pool parties at W Bangkok hotel. Royal City Avenue (RCA) is a favorite for clubbing.

Bangkok offers a budget-friendly experience during Songkran.

Phuket is known for its intense water fights and cultural events like temple processions and building sand pagodas. Chiang Mai is another key spot for Songkran, where locals and tourists join in the water fights.

Songkran is deeply rooted in Thai culture. It’s a time for families to come together, honor elders, and think about their beliefs.

People clean Buddha images and use white paste for protection against evil spirits. Homes and temples also get a deep clean.
Learn more about Songkran to explore its history and traditions.

During Songkran, businesses like schools and government offices close. This lets everyone join in the fun. The festival marks a fresh start and is filled with cultural events, parades, beauty pageants, and food festivals.

Tết: Vietnamese lunar new year

Tết Nguyên Đán, also known as the Vietnamese New Year, welcomes spring and usually happens in January or February. It’s a big event in Vietnam, filled with family, ancestry, and wishes for a prosperous year.

The celebration often matches the Chinese New Year but sometimes doesn’t.

In 1943, Tết was a month late. The three-day Tết includes preparations, New Year’s Eve, and the first day of the year. These days are full of family reunions, letting go of past troubles, and starting fresh.

At Tết, special foods like bánh tét and xôi are key. These dishes bring good luck and show off Vietnam’s rich food culture.

Red envelopes with money are a big part of Tết. They bring luck and blessings.

Cleaning the house before Tết gets rid of bad luck. Exchanging greetings and honoring ancestors are also important.

The first three days of Tết have special activities. The first day is for visiting parents-in-law, the second for the wife’s family, and the third for teachers. These customs show respect and gratitude in Vietnam.

While Tết shares some similarities with Chinese New Year, it has its own unique traditions. The Vietnamese zodiac has a cat and a buffalo, not a rabbit and an ox. Traditional dishes like Bánh chưng add special flavors to the celebration.

Understanding these differences helps us see the unique culture of Tết. It’s a time of myths, customs, and joy. Vietnamese people celebrate Tết to honor their heritage and look forward to the future.

Thaipusam: Honoring lord murugan

Thaipusam is a big Hindu festival mainly celebrated by the Tamil community. It honors Lord Murugan.

This festival is held in many countries like India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. It even reaches places as far as the Caribbean, Fiji, South Africa, and the United States.

It happens on the first full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January-February). Thaipusam is a day for offering, prayer, and self-reflection.

In Malaysia, thousands go to places like Batu Caves and Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple in Penang for the festival.

In Singapore, there’s a 3-4 km procession from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. Devotees carry milk pots and kavadis with spikes through their bodies.

Thaipusam was once a public holiday in Singapore until 1968. But it’s still a big deal in the Tamil Hindu festival community.

• In Tamil Nadu, Thaipusam is a public holiday and celebrated at important Murugan temples, including the six sacred places.
• People prepare by making kavadis, which are wooden poles with peacock feathers and decorations.
• Some devotees pierce their tongues, cheeks, and bodies with sharp skewers as a sign of devotion.
• The procession can go from early morning to late evening, stopping often to worship.
• Devotees carry pots of milk (palkuddam) to pour over the statue of Lord Murugan as an offering.

Mr. S Ganesh has been doing Thaipusam since he was 14. He fasts for 7 to 9 days before the festival. This tradition is in his family for over 40 years, showing his deep connection to the Hindu festival.

Mr. Ganesh once mentioned, “Seeing non-Indians participating in Thaipusam and tourists from all around the world coming to witness the event highlights its universal appeal and spiritual significance.”

Thaipusam is a festival of devotion, sacrifice, and community spirit. It deeply connects people to Lord Murugan.

Vesak: celebrating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death

Vesak is a big Buddhist festival that happens on the full-moon day of Vesak, usually in April, May, or June. It’s been recognized since 1950 by the World Fellowship of Buddhists and by the United Nations in 1999.

This festival honors Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.

In the 19th century, Vesak took on its modern form in Sri Lanka. Today, it’s a public holiday in many Southeast Asian countries.

People celebrate with devotional services and doing good deeds like feeding monks or freeing birds.

They might also skip alcohol and meat, say prayers, and do acts of kindness. In East Asia, the festival is split into three parts: for Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.

These are celebrated with lantern festivals, lotus-shaped lanterns, and flower festivals.

In the United States and other places outside Asia, Buddhists celebrate Vesak in their own way. They join together, not just as Buddhists, but as people from different backgrounds.

The date of Vesak changes every year. For example, Myanmar celebrates it on 3 May, while Sri Lanka does on 5 May.

In 2023, some countries will celebrate on 2 June. The exact date depends on local traditions and the lunar calendar.

In 2024, some countries will celebrate on 22 May, and others on 23 May. For 2025, the dates are 11 May for some and 12 May for others. This shows how different cultures and calendars affect the date.

In the Tibetan tradition, Vesak is called Saga Dawa Duchen. It’s a time to celebrate Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. Tibetans chant, listen to lectures, and give offerings to monks during this time.

They also focus on their commitment to the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Even though there’s not much online about it, Vesak is a big deal for Buddhists everywhere.

Conclusion

The many festivals in Asia show the area’s deep cultural diversity and shared values. From the Lunar New Year’s joy to Qingming’s respect, each festival adds to Asia’s cultural richness.

These events highlight life’s cycles, family bonds, honoring historical figures, and spiritual paths.

The Chinese lunisolar calendar shows how time and culture are deeply linked. It has months of 29 or 30 days, with extra months to match the solar calendar. This means the Chinese New Year changes dates each year. Such calendars help plan big events and farming, showing how festivals affect daily life.

As seasons change, the Asian calendar tells stories that bring people together. These stories go beyond borders and through time, building a sense of unity and joy. By keeping these traditions alive, Asia’s heritage keeps giving us joy and valuable lessons.

Kesia Kassada 13 de August de 2024