Introduction
Asia is a land of many cultures and traditions. The festivals in Asia are also very diverse and colorful. They celebrate the harvest, honor deities, or pay respect to their ancestors. Festivals are great ways to experience the culture of a region and learn about its traditions and history at the same time! Here are some of our favorite festivals from across Asia:
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is celebrated in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It’s also known as Yuanxiao Festival (the Yuan being an ancient unit of currency). The festival marks the end of winter and beginning of spring; it’s a celebration of renewal, growth and harmony that can be traced back to ancient times.
For this reason, lanterns are often used during this time period–they symbolize light breaking through darkness and bringing warmth into our lives during cold months before spring arrives fully with its warmer weather.
Songkran Water Festival
Songkran is the Thai New Year and it’s celebrated with a splash. It takes place from April 13 to 15, but the water festival can be observed throughout Thailand in various ways depending on where you are. The most popular way to celebrate Songkran is by throwing buckets of water on each other. The tradition dates back to ancient times when people would bathe themselves in order to cleanse their bodies after being sick or suffering from an illness during this time of year. Today, people still enjoy bathing together but now it has evolved into throwing buckets full of cold water on one another–which may sound strange, but it’s actually really fun!
You’ll want to pack some clothes that aren’t too expensive because they will get ruined in the process (or maybe not?). You’ll also need plenty of sunscreen as well as sunglasses because you’re going outdoors! Make sure your phone stays dry; otherwise there will be no pictures left behind when this crazy experience ends later today evening around 7pm local time.”
Thai New Year
- Thai New Year
- Celebrated on the 13th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar
- Celebration lasts for 3 days, during which people wear new clothes and visit relatives. They also offer gifts to their elders and friends.
Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boats are an important part of Chinese culture and tradition. The festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a poet who lived during the Warring States period (475-221 BC). He was said to have drowned himself in a river after being rejected by his kingdom’s ruler for his criticism of government policies.
In modern times, dragon boat races are held as part of this ancient tradition. People gather on rivers or lakes to race against each other in their boats made from hollowed tree trunks called “dragon boats”. It’s said that whoever finishes first will have good luck throughout the year!
Tet Nguyen Dan – Vietnamese New Year
Vietnamese New Year is a huge celebration, which marks the beginning of spring in Vietnam. It’s the most important holiday in Vietnam and lasts for three days.
The first day is the arrival of the New Year (Tet). People welcome this special occasion with traditional music and dance performances, firecrackers and lanterns lighting up streets around houses or at temples.
On day two, family members gather together to share food and gifts during their reunion (Nam Moi). This is also known as “Family Reunion Day.”
The last day of Tet Nguyen Dan marks its departure from homes through rites such as sweeping floors with water mixed with leaves from banana trees (Banh Chung) or burning incense sticks called “Lanterns” (Cong Hoa).
Black May Day
May Day is a traditional holiday in Thailand, celebrated on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. The holiday marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent and was originally observed as a day for merit making and paying respects to Buddha. It’s also a time for picnics and parties, as well as traditional games like tug-of-war contests or horseshoe tossing competitions (and if you’re lucky enough to be invited over by locals this day, they’ll likely serve you delicious Thai food).
If you’re planning on visiting Thailand during this period–which runs from March 12 through April 1–there are plenty of ways to get involved with Black May Day celebrations! You can visit temples around Bangkok where monks will give blessings before sunrise; attend local fairs that sell foodstuffs like sticky rice cake with coconut milk (lohtong); take part in parades featuring floats made from flowers; watch fireworks displays at nightfall…the list goes on!
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in China and other parts of Asia, where it’s also known as Mooncake Festival or Harvest Moon Festival. It’s celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, which usually falls between September and November in our Gregorian calendar. The date changes every year depending on when exactly each month begins–but since you can always count on it happening sometime between September 22 and October 22 (on average), this article will focus on those dates specifically.
The festival celebrates three things: family, community, and harvest (which makes sense given that it takes place during harvest season). Families gather together over food such as mooncakes filled with lotus seed paste; children enjoy traditional games like kite flying; friends exchange gifts such as red envelopes full of cash called “lucky money.”
Tee Yip Man Wing Chun Kuen Annual Tournament – Hong Kong.
If you’re interested in martial arts, Hong Kong is the place to be. The city is home to many great schools that teach various forms of martial arts including Wing Chun Kuen, Tai Chi and Kung Fu. The Tee Yip Man Wing Chun Kuen Annual Tournament is held every year at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on June 1st-2nd. This tournament offers open competition for all styles and ages (though competitors must be 18 years old).
Asian festivals are a great way to experience the culture of the region.
Festivals are a great way to experience the culture of the region. Each festival has its own traditions and can be a great way to meet people, learn about a new culture, or even experience local food and drink.
There are many festivals in Asia that travelers should attend!
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the top 8 Asian festivals every traveler should attend. If there is one thing we’ve learned from our travels, it’s that there are endless opportunities for adventure in this world. We encourage everyone to explore their own backyard and beyond!
More Stories
What You Can Learn From 20 Asian Rites Of Passage In America
The Landmarks of Asia
A Shift in Mental Model Can Solve Many Asian-Specific Challenges