Introducing Asia's famous Festivals
Asia is a continent with diverse cultures and traditions, and many countries hold various festivals every year. Here are some of the representative festivals held in Asian countries and brief descriptions of them.
Japan
Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival)
Background: The iconic cherry blossom of Japan is an important factor that signals the beginning of spring. Sakura Matsuri is a festival held during the cherry blossom season, loved all over Japan.
Major events: Cherry blossom play (Hanami), traditional performances, night markets, and fireworks.
Experience elements: Picnic under cherry blossoms, tasting traditional food, and experiencing kimonos.
Gion Matsuri (Gion Matsuri)
When: For the month of July
Place: Kyoto
Background: It is Japan's representative summer festival that dates back to 869. It revolves around the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.
Major events: Yamaboko Parade, visits to Yasaka Shrine, traditional performances, no-mise (street prize).
Experience elements: Experience traditional clothes, taste street food, and participate in traditional games.
China
Chinese New YearBackground: It is the biggest holiday to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year. Families gather to celebrate and honor ancestors.
Major events: Fireworks, Dragon Dance, Lion Dance, Lotus Lantern Festival.
Experience elements: Taste traditional food (dumpling, Lunar New Year cake, etc.), share New Year's greetings, and receive Hong Bao (red envelope).
Mid-Autumn Festival
Time: August 15th of the lunar calendar
Venue: National
Background: Celebrating the harvest season, it is a holiday where families gather to appreciate the moon and celebrate together.
Major events: moon appreciation, lantern procession, dragon dance performance.
Experience elements: Tasting mooncakes, making lanterns, and listening to traditional music.
Korea
Chuseok (Chuseok)Background: A holiday celebrating Korea's fall harvest, ancestors are honored and families gather to share rich food.
Major events: charyon (honored by our ancestors), graves, songpyeon making, traditional games (ganggangsullae, tug-of-war, etc.).
Experience elements: wearing hanbok, making traditional food, and experiencing rural areas.
Lunar New Year
Time: January 1 of the lunar calendar
Venue: National
Background: A holiday to celebrate the Korean New Year, families gather to celebrate the New Year and honor ancestors.
Major events: New Year's bows (New Year's greetings), turn, eating tteokguk, and traditional games (yutnori, jegichagi, etc.).
Experience elements: wearing hanbok, participating in traditional games, and tasting traditional food.
Thailand
Songkran (Songkran)Background: A festival celebrating the Thai New Year, celebrating the New Year by spraying water and cooling off.
Major events: water fights, visits to Buddhist temples, traditional dance performances.
Experience elements: participating in water fights, experiencing Buddhist rituals, and tasting traditional food.
Roy Krathong (Loy Krathong)
When: November
Venue: National (especially Chiang Mai, Bangkok)
Background: A festival where a small boat (krathong) is floated in the water to thank the goddess of water and cleanse her sins.
Major events: krathong floats, fireworks, traditional dance performances.
Experience elements: Making krathong, wearing traditional costumes, participating in local festivals.
India
Holly (Holly)Background: A festival celebrating the arrival of spring and the victory of good, participants celebrate by spraying each other with colored powder and water.
Major events: a powder festival, music and dance, and sharing traditional food.
Experience elements: Throwing colored powder, enjoying traditional music and dancing, and tasting Indian food.
Diwali (Diwali)
When: October to November
Venue: National
Background: Festival of Lights, celebrating the return of Ramayana and the victory of the good.
Major events: Fireworks, lantern lighting, traditional dance performances.
Experience elements: making langoli, lighting lanterns, sharing traditional food.
Vietnam
Tet Nguyen Dan
Background: It's Vietnam's lunar Lunar New Year, where families gather to share traditional food and honor ancestors for the New Year.
Major events: Fireworks, sharing traditional food, and visiting temples.
Elements of experience: making bánh chᅳᆼng (traditional Vietnamese rice cake), watching traditional performances, and sharing New Year's greetings.
Background: It's Vietnam's lunar Lunar New Year, where families gather to share traditional food and honor ancestors for the New Year.
Major events: Fireworks, sharing traditional food, and visiting temples.
Elements of experience: making bánh chᅳᆼng (traditional Vietnamese rice cake), watching traditional performances, and sharing New Year's greetings.
Hue Festival later
When: April every two years
Venue: Later
Background: A cultural festival held in Hue, the historical capital of Vietnam.
Major events: traditional performances, art exhibitions, parades.
Experience elements: Experience traditional clothes, taste local food, and participate in cultural events.
Malaysia
Hari Raya AidilfitriBackground: A festival held after Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month, where family and friends gather to share food and pray for each other's health and happiness.
Major events: prayer ceremonies, family gatherings, and sharing traditional food.
Experience elements: Wearing traditional clothes, tasting traditional food, and participating in local festivals.
Taipusam (Thaipusam)
When: January to February
Venue: Batu Cave (Kualapur)
Background: Hindu festival, a ritual dedicated to the god Murugan.
Major events: processions, sacred ceremonies, accessories on the body.
Elements of experience: participating in processions, visiting Hindu temples, and experiencing traditional rituals.
Philippines
Sinulog FestivalBackground: A festival honoring Santon Nino, the patron saint of Cebu, with colorful street parades and dance performances.
Major events: street parades, dance performances, fireworks.
Experience elements: Participate in street parades, learn traditional dances, and taste local food.
Arti-Atihan Festival
When: January
Place: Calibo
Background: The oldest festival in the Philippines, an event that honors indigenous Artis and worships Santonino.
Major events: face painting, dance performances, music parades.
Experience elements: Traditional dance and music experience, face painting, participation in local festivals.