• There are a number of Chinese festivals to celebrate different aspects of the culture. Every Chinese festival is set according to the Chinese lunar calendar and often commemorates a certain myth. A few festivals, such as the Chinese New Year, are also celebrated in different countries like Korea and Vietnam.
  
  

Moon Festival

• Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the Chinese Moon festival is also known as the Mid-Autumn festival. This festival is the Chinese equivalent of Thanksgiving. Legend has it that a lady known as Chang Er flew to the moon on that particular night and has lingered there ever since. It is believed she can be seen dancing on the moon during the festival.
  
  The Moon Festival is an important occasion for families and lovers alike. Family reunions are often scheduled during the festival. Families gather outside of their house, watch the moon, eat moon cakes and sing moon poems. Other than that, the festival is also a night of romance. Lovers make it a point to watch the moon together, while feasting on moon cakes and wine. If you are living away from your loved one, watching the moon from your different locations at the same hour is a sweet gesture of affection.
  
  

Chinese New Year

• The Chinese follow a separate lunar calendar; hence, they celebrate a different start of the year from the rest of the world. The Chinese New Year is a time for feasting and firecrackers. Traditionally, hot rice porridge is eaten during this event. The dish is prepared a night before and won't be ready until morning. The story behind the dish is that a wasteful man named Laba Zhou cooked porridge when he had nothing else to eat. After that he began teaching to kids about the value of thrift---a value that the Chinese hold onto dearly.
  
  During the eve of the Chinese New Year, firecrackers and fireworks are evident everywhere. The sky is filled with vibrant hues and the streets are exceptionally noisy. This is to drive away bad spirits and welcome good luck for the entering year. The Chinese New Year falls within the last week January until the second week of February.
  
  

Lantern Festival

• The Lantern Festival has been celebrated since the Han Dynasty. This festival is a favorite among people who are looking for a good time. On the night of the festival people go out with their bright lanterns, light up firecrackers, and play games and sing songs. It is also during this festival when the much-noted dragon or lion dance is presented. Just like any Chinese festival, the Lantern Festival is commemorated while eating a specific dish. The Yuanxiao is a sweet dumpling made of glutinous rice. Because of the sticky characteristic of the dumpling, it is meant to symbolize unity, completeness and happiness among families. The Lantern Festival is celebrated 15 days after the Chinese New Year.