Appendix II
National Holidays and Festivals in Taiwan
* Denotes a national holiday and government offices are closed.
Founding Day of the Republic of China *
中華民國開國紀念日
January 1
The ROC president presides over a ceremony commemorating the January 1, 1912, founding of the Republic, which is attended by the presidents of each of the five Yuan (branches) of the central government, heads of the ministries, and other high-level officials.
Government offices are closed.
Lunar New Year 春節 *
February 1, 2003 (1st day, 1st moon)
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the biggest festival celebrated in Taiwan. Lunar New Year's Day falls on the second new moon of the lunar calendar after the winter solstice. Thus, the first day of the lunar new year falls between January 21 and February 19 on the Gregorian calendar.
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, an ordinary year contains 12 lunar months of 29 or 30 days. A leap year occurs once every three years, when a 13th intercalary month is added to reestablish agreement with the solar year. The Chinese lunar calendar follows a 60-year cycle.
Festivities begin on the eighth day of the last lunar month of the old year and continue until the 15th day of the first month of the new year. On the eighth day of the last moon, commonly known as la ba 臘八, people eat hot sweet congee, believed to bring good luck during the New Year season.
Families clean out their homes and offer sacrifices to the Earth God on the 16th day of the last moon, commonly known as wei ya 尾牙. Employers hold banquets for their employees to show their appreciation.
Offerings are made to propitiate the God of the Hearth 灶神 on the 24th day of the last moon. According to legend, the deity returns to heaven on this day to report to the Jade Emperor 玉皇大帝 the doings and misdoings of every member of the household he guards.
The climax of the festivities is on New Year's Eve 除夕, when every member of the family returns home to partake in a sumptuous family dinner, the last meal of the year, which includes fish and dumplings and other foods with symbolic meaning. Children receive hong bao 紅包, or money placed in red envelopes, as the new year is ushered in with firecrackers.
On New Year's Day, ceremonial candles are lit and incense and sacrificial paper money burned. Endless strings of firecrackers are exploded and spring couplets are pasted on doors or at either side of the doorways to scare away the legendary nian 年 monster and evil spirits. People visit temples to pay respects to the gods before calling on their friends and relatives.
On the second day of the New Year 初二, firecrackers sound again as sacrifices are offered to the gods. Married daughters return to visit their parents' homes.
People usually stay at home on the third day, which is believed to be a time for bad luck. According to legend, field mice hold their weddings on this day. Some families place rice outdoors for the occasion.
On the fourth day, the deities, including the God of the Hearth, are welcomed back to earth with sacrificial offerings and firecrackers.
Most people return to work on the fifth day, when businessmen make offerings to the God of Wealth 財神.
On the seventh day, families light seven candles and prepare dinners of seven dishes to mark the anniversary of the creation of man.
The eighth day marks the resumption of normal schedules for those not yet back at work, usually factory workers.
The birthday of the Jade Emperor, the supreme Taoist deity and ruler of heaven, is celebrated on the ninth day.
The New Year season draws to a close with the Lantern Festival (see below) on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
This year, government offices closed for four days starting on New Year's Eve.
Farmer's Day 農民節
February 4
The start of spring 立春 has been traditionally marked by Farmer's Day, honoring the most important activity in traditional Chinese agrarian society. It falls at the beginning of one of the 24 seasonal periods of the year, on either February 4 or 5.
Lantern Festival 元宵節
February 15, 2003 (15th day, lst moon)
Most temples are illuminated by colorful lanterns of all shapes and sizes in the evening. Riddle-solving contests are held at temples, parks, and public places, with members of the public invited to find answers to clues written in couplets. Glutinous rice dumplings called yuan siao 元宵 are eaten.
Tourism Day 觀光節
February 15, 2003 (15th day, lst moon)
Tourism Day coincides with the Lantern Festival, the last day of Tourism Week, which begins on the ninth day of the first lunar month. Since the inception of Tourism Week in 1978, the Tourism Bureau has organized a series of events for visitors to Taiwan, including folk arts presentations and folk dance performances.
Peace Memorial Day 和平紀念日 *
February 28
In remembrance of those lost in the unrest and aftermath of the February 28 Incident of 1947, and in hopes of healing the wounds and closing the divisions left by the episode, February 28 is observed as a national memorial day. In 1997, Peace Memorial Day was elevated to the status of a national holiday after the Legislative Yuan amended the February 28 Incident Disposition and Compensation Act 二二八事件處理及補償條例 on February 25 and the president promulgated the revised legislation on the same day.
Earth God's Birthday 土地公誕辰
March 4, 2003 (2nd day, 2nd moon)
The birthday of the Earth God 土地公 is celebrated with great pomp, and temples
are packed with worshippers from early morning till noon. Followers also make
simple offerings to the deity at temples and in front of
their homes or stores on the first and 15th day of each lunar month. Every community
and home is believed to be guarded by its own Earth God. According to legend,
the Earth God was a tax collector who won popular acclaim for his kindness,
and was deified after his death.
Women's Day 婦女節
March 8
Women's Day has been observed in the ROC since 1924, following the introduction of the women's movement from the West.
This holiday is currently celebrated in conjunction with Children's Day on April 4.
Arbor Day 植樹節
March 12
Trees are planted by school children in remembrance of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's encouragement of afforestation. The ROC government designated the day of Dr. Sun's passing as Arbor Day four years after his death in 1925.
Guan Yin's Birthday 觀音誕辰
March 21, 2003 (19th day, 2nd moon)
Guan Yin's birthday is celebrated with offerings of fruit and vegetables. A patron goddess of both Taoists and Buddhists, she is worshipped by seafarers, farmers, travellers, merchants, and women hoping for offspring.
Youth Day 青年節
March 29
Youth Day was initially observed on May 4 in commemoration of student participation in the May Fourth Movement 五四運動 in 1919. It was changed to March 29 in 1943 in remembrance of the young revolutionary fighters' role in the tenth uprising against the Manchus in Canton in 1912.
Women's/Children's Day 婦幼節
April 4
Activities are held at schools and by educational institutions to mark what used to be known as Children's Day 兒童節, which has been observed since 1932.
Tomb-Sweeping Day 清明節*
Passing of President Chiang Kai-shek
蔣公逝世紀念日
April 5
Family graves are swept, and meats, fruits, and wine are arranged before the tombs. Services for President Chiang Kai-shek, who passed away on April 5, 1975, are held on this day.
Government offices are closed.
God of Medicine's Birthday 保生大帝誕辰
April 16, 2003 (15th day, 3rd moon)
Performing groups, including stilt walkers and musical bands, draw crowds to one of the most elaborate processions in Taiwan, held in Syuejia 學甲, Tainan County 台南縣, in honor of the tenth century healer, Wu Ben 吳本. Wu was later immortalized as the Great Emperor Bao Sheng 保生大帝.
Ma Zu's Birthday 媽祖誕辰
April 24, 2003 (23rd day, 3rd moon)
The birthday of Ma Zu, the goddess of the sea and patron saint of Chinese fishermen, is celebrated islandwide on this day. According to one version of the legend, Ma Zu saved her father, brother and a number of fishermen from drowning while she physically remained at home; in a different version of the legend, however, she failed to save another brother. She is believed to have ascended to heaven at the age of 28.
Labor Day 勞動節
May 1
Following the inception of Labor Day by an international alliance in 1889, five years after an "eight-hour movement" was initiated by American workers for better treatment, workers in Canton began to observe the occasion in 1920. Labor Day was not celebrated nationwide, however, until after the conclusion of the Northern Expedition in 1928.
Workers have the day off.
Literary Day 文藝節
May 4
Awards for outstanding literary achievements are presented on this day. Literary
Day has been observed
since 1968 in commemoration of the role played by university students in the
May Fourth Movement, and their call for democracy, scientific development, and
the promotion of literature.
Buddha's Birthday 佛誕日
May 8, 2003 (8th day, 4th moon)
Believers attend ceremonies at Buddhist shrines and chant sutras in celebration of the birthday of Siddhartha Gautama, founder of the religion. Images of the Buddha are bathed on this day.
Mother's Day 母親節
May 10
Awards are presented to model mothers by municipal governments and women's organizations on the second Sunday of May.
Opium Suppression Movement Day 禁煙節
June 3
This day has been observed since 1930 in commemoration of the burning of imported opium in 1839 during the Opium War against the British.
Dragon Boat Festival 端午節 / 詩人節 *
June 4, 2003 (5th day, 5th moon)
Dragon boat races are held and glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves are eaten in remembrance of Cyu Yuan 屈原, a famous scholar-statesman of the Warring States Period. Cyu drowned himself after failing to convince the king of Chu 楚王 to guard the kingdom against the enemy.
Government offices are closed.
Guan Gong's Birthday 關公誕辰
June 12, 2003 (13th day, 5th moon)
Sacrificial offerings are made to Guan Gong, the god of war and righteousness. Guan Gong was a mighty warrior during the period of the Three Kingdoms.
Cheng Huang's Birthday 城隍誕辰
June 12, 2003 (l3th day, 5th moon)
The largest procession honoring Cheng Huang, the city god, takes place at Taipei's
Cheng Huang Temple 城隍廟. The deity is believed to protect the city from danger
and guard it from enemies. According to legend,
Cheng Huang was a river ghost whose harmlessness so impressed the ruler of Hades
that he was later elevated to the status of city god.
Ci Si Festival 七夕
August 4, 2003 (7th day, 7th moon)
On this Chinese version of Valentine's Day, lovers visit the Lovers' Temple 情人廟 in Beitou 北投, Taipei, where the Cowherd 牛郎 and Weaving Maid 織女 are enshrined. Legend has it that the Weaving Maid abandoned her work at the spinning wheel after she fell in love with the Cowherd. The Mother Goddess of Heaven 王母娘娘 was so angry that she separated the couple and allowed them to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh moon, when magpies come together to form a bridge over the Milky Way, which divides the two.
Father's Day 父親節
August 8
This day was designated Father's Day in 1945. The Chinese characters for "eight" 八 (eighth day of the eighth month of the solar year) and "father" 爸 are both pronounced ba.
Ghost Festival 中元節
August 12, 2003 (15th day, 7th moon)
On the first day of the seventh moon, the gates of Hades are opened and the spirits are allowed a month of feasting and revelry in the land of the living. The climax is reached on the Ghost Festival, the 15th day of Ghost Month 鬼月, when great sacrificial feasts are set out in temples and in front of homes to appease wandering souls. Paper money is burned and lanterns floated on lakes and streams to deliver the dead.
Ami Initiation Festival 阿美族成年禮
End of August or beginning of September
The initiation ceremony of Ami boys at the age of 17 is preceded by performances of tribal dancers dressed in red and black. The festival is celebrated by the Ami tribes in Hualien.
Armed Forces Day 軍人節
September 3
Armed Forces Day was first observed in 1955 in memory of the contributions
of military servicemen
during the eight-year Sino-Japanese War, which ended with the Japanese surrender
on September 3, 1945.
Servicemen are given leave in accordance with Ministry of National Defense directives.
Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節 *
September 11, 2003 (15th day, 8th moon)
Families reunite in the evening to eat moon cakes 月餅 and gaze at the full moon. Legend has it that Chang E 嫦娥 was swept to the moon after swallowing a pill of immortality. She later came to be known as the moon goddess.
Government offices are closed.
Teachers' Day 教師節
Confucius' Birthday 孔子誕辰紀念日
September 28
Teachers' Day is observed on the birthday anniversary of Confucius, the great sage and teacher who has had far-reaching influence on Chinese philosophy and culture. Ceremonies are held at all Confucian temples, the largest one being at Taipei's Confucian Temple 臺北孔廟, where a special dance in honor of the great teacher is performed each year. Awards are presented by the government to distinguished teachers.
Double Ninth Festival 九九重陽節
October 4, 2003 (9th day, 9th moon)
Also known as the Chong Yang Festival 重陽節, this day has been set aside to honor senior citizens since 1966. Senior Citizens' Week is observed from the ninth to the 15th day of the ninth lunar month. According to legend, on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Ma Zu 媽祖, goddess of the sea, decided to climb a mountain overlooking the sea in search of her father, who was drowning while out fishing. Senior Citizens' Day is observed on this day in remembrance of Ma Zu's filial piety.
Double Tenth National Day 雙十節 / 國慶日 *
October 10
The Double Tenth National Day is observed in commemoration of the Wuchang Uprising
武昌起義 on October 10, 1911, which led to the establishment of the ROC on January
1, 1912. The president gives a public address in front of the Presidential Office
Building, followed by a parade of armed forces acad
emies, representatives of different professions, folk dancers, and dragon dancers.
Government offices are closed.
Overseas Chinese Day 華僑節
October 21
The ROC government shows its appreciation for the support and contributions of overseas Chinese on this day.
Taiwan's Retrocession Day 光復節
October 25
This day marks the restoration of Taiwan to Chinese rule in 1945 after half a century of Japanese occupation.
Chiang Kai-shek's Birthday 蔣公誕辰紀念日
October 31
Memorial services are held islandwide and government leaders pay their respects to late President Chiang Kai-shek at his temporary resting place on Cihhu 慈湖.
Saisiat Festival 賽夏節
November 8, 2003 (15th day, 10th moon)
The five-day Pastaai Festival 矮靈祭 of the Saisiat tribe is celebrated
with aborigines dancing to the ringing of bells, and an exhibition of huge "dance
hats"
carried by teams of men. These ceremonies in Nanjhuang 南庄, Miaoli County 苗栗縣
are held once every two years to seek the forgiveness of a long-gone tribe of
pygmies who were double-crossed by the Saisiats more than 500 years ago.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Birthday 國父誕辰紀念日
November 12
Respects are paid to the Founding Father of the nation at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 國父紀念館 on this day. Doctors' Day 醫師節 and Cultural Renaissance Day 中華文化復興節 are also observed on this day.
Winter Festival 冬至節
December 22
Glutinous rice dumplings are eaten to mark the beginning of the winter season. The Winter Festival falls on or around the winter solstice (December 21, 22, or 23) every year. The festival's lunar calendar date varies from year to year.
Constitution Day 行憲紀念日
December 25
The Constitution of the ROC was promulgated on January 1, 1947, and went into effect on December 25 of the same year.
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