HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS IN CHINA IN 2020

It is during these holidays that the days are non-working days for all Chinese citizens. Holidays have the greatest impact on business operations. Many, unknowingly, leaving requests for services that are directly related to interaction with the Chinese side, are subsequently disappointed when they realize that the deadlines are significantly increased.

Below we will provide brief but understandable information about each of the holidays, if you suddenly decide to congratulate your Chinese partner.

This holiday became a state holiday in China only since 1949. As you know, this holiday is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar. However, it is not as popular as here in Russia, therefore it is practically not celebrated. The Chinese do not arrange noisy and cheerful feasts, do not exchange the traditional New Year gifts, and decorated fir trees can be found exclusively in the homes of Western representatives of the population. China prefers another holiday - the Chinese New Year, which comes on the lunar calendar. Therefore, it is probably not worth congratulating the Chinese partner on "our" New Year.

But China celebrates this holiday with all its heart and in accordance with all traditions. Chinese New Year is the most important and longest holiday. He has been revered for several millennia. The date of the celebration is set according to the lunar calendar and in 2020 falls on the period from 25.01 to 31.01. Therefore, it is a good decision to congratulate the Chinese side on this wonderful holiday.

As the name implies, this is a day of remembrance for the dead, when every representative of China goes out into nature, visits the graves of their ancestors and goes to temples.

The meaning and purpose of this holiday are the same as in Russia. Labor Day has been public in China since 1949.

A very unusual holiday, which is traditionally celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month according to the lunar calendar. You can also hear among the common people - the holiday of the double five. The holiday is one of the three most important for the Chinese nation (the first two are Chinese New Year and Memorial Day). On the day of the celebration, dragon boat rowing competitions are traditionally held. A festive special on this day is zòngzi - glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves. The origin of the holiday is associated with the memory of the Chinese poet Qu Yuan. The poet lived in the kingdom of Tsu during the difficult era of the Howling Kingdoms, around the 5th-3rd century BC. Qu Yuan pursued a noble goal and several times turned to the king with proposals for reforms. However, the king, believing the denunciations of the dignitaries, sent the poet out. In the year 278, the troops of the Qin kingdom captured the capital of Tsu, which was a tragic blow for the poet, and he, unable to bear it, committed suicide on the 5th of the 5th month, throwing himself into the river. According to legend, upon learning about the death of the poet, people rushed to the boats and started looking for the body, but, unfortunately, to no avail. Since then, every year on a certain date, boat races have been organized on the rivers in honor of the great poet.

Known as the day of worship of the moon god. The holiday marks the middle of the cycle of the year. By tradition, on this day, the Chinese gather with the whole family, prepare various treats and exchange congratulations. On the tables you can see such amazing dishes as "yuebin" (月 yue - moon, 饼 bin - gingerbread, flatbread). These are peculiar gingerbread cookies in the shape of a disk similar to the Moon (also called moon gingerbread), which are made from wheat flour with butter, and the filling can be for any taste: from raisins and dried fruits or walnuts and sugar. It is customary to give gingerbread to friends, which symbolizes the wish for well-being. The holiday is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month on the full moon according to the Chinese calendar.

The main public holiday in China, which is accompanied by a grandiose week-long festivities. The beginning of the birth of the holiday is considered from October 1, 1949, from the day when the formation of the People's Republic of China was proclaimed at a rally in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, and on December 2, 1949, this day was officially approved as a national holiday.