Chinese Valentines Day or should I say days

 

 

 

Chinese Valentines Day #1 – Valentine’s Day (情人节, qíngrén jié)The 14th February, like in the West, now marks one of China’s many Valentine’s Days.

 

A recent import from the West, it is very popular amongst younger generations.

Much like in the West on this day, you can expect couples to spend time together by going to the cinema or for romantic dinners.
It is also common to buy chocolate and roses for your loved ones – the pricier the better!
On this Chinese festival, make sure to spend it with your boyfriend/girlfriend.


chinese cherry blossom painting

Chinese Valentines Day #2  White Valentine’s Day (白色情人节, Báisè qíngrén jié)White Day is a festival celebrated in many East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. 

 

This Chinese Valentine’s Day falls exactly one month after Valentine’s day on the 14th February and is traditionally celebrated with females gifting their partner’s or loved one’s chocolate.

 It is also common to home make chocolates, which generally shows deeper thought and more feeling behind it. Chocolates are also gifted as a social obligation to colleagues or friends.

 chinese photography lantern wall art

 

Chinese Valentines Day #3 –  520, Wǔ’èr líng

 

 This interesting Chinese Valentine’s Day recently entered China through the growing internet culture of Netizens.DID YOU KNOW – It came about because 520 (pronounced as ‘Wǔ’èr líng’) sounds like the Chinese for “I love you” (wo ai ni).

 

 

Chinese Valentines Day #4 – 20/8: Qi Xi Festival (七夕节, Qīxì jié)

 

 Qixi Festival comes from the romantic tale of two lovers who can only come together once a year, which is why it is celebrated on this day.Qixi Festival comes from the romantic tale of two lovers who can only come together once a year, which is why it is celebrated on this day.

 

 chinese cherry blossom valse

Chinese Valentines Day #5 – 15th Day in Lunar Year: The Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuánxiāo jié)

 

The Lantern Festival is held on the 15th day in the Lunar Calendar, this ancient traditional festival is seen as a Chinese Valentine’s Day.
One of the reasons for this is because back in olden days when women were barely able to leave the house, going out to go and light the lanterns during this festival was a rare occasion when women could go on dates and find a partner. 

japan wall art of blossoms

Chinese Valentines Day #6 – 11/11: Single’s Day (双十一, Shuāng shíyī)

 

With 5 Valentine’s Days in China, what’s a single girl to do? Do not fear singles!

China has been celebrating Single’s Day for a few years now, originally there to celebrate being single – but now simply celebrates consumerism.
The story goes that this date was originally celebrated by students in Nanjing university who wanted to celebrate being single.

The cherry blossom festival in Japan

What is the cherry blossom festival? The cherry blossom known as the sakura is steeped in tradition and history.Peak bloom is the magical moment visitors want to be on hand for during the cherry blossom season. The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70 percent of the trees surrounding the Tidal Basin have opened their buds, creating an unforgettable sea of pink and white.

-Hirosaki Castle

Known as one of the most beautiful places to see cherry blossoms in Japan, Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture holds the annual cherry blossom festival at Hirosaki Park (弘前公園). Beautiful cherry blossoms can be enjoyed at the foot of glorious Hirosaki Castle at day and night with delicious street food and drinks, and the site is also popular after the peak blooming period as the stunning view of moats covered by pink petal can be enjoyed.

 Japanese families also eagerly await this time. Many attend cherry blossom festivals or simply enjoy hanami, the tradition of viewing and enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossom. Many people indulge in picnics beneath the blooming cherry trees.

If you are planning a trip to see Japan’s famous cherry blossoms in 2020, there are two things to consider – where and when to visit. There are many prime locations with a variety of features – some have the oldest trees, others the most trees, and some are close to historic areas or other sites of interest. You can quickly and easily travel between many locations by train using your Japan Rail Pass.

japan cherry blossom wall art

Once you’ve decided on which of the best cherry blossom spots in Japan (or just in Tokyo or in Kyoto) you will visit for Hanami, you will want to time your stay so that you will get the most from your cherry blossom experience. Why? Because not every location experiences full bloom at the same time.

 Throughout most of Japan, blooming typically occurs in late March and early April. Some areas may produce blooms as early as January. The emergence of the first blossoms is called kaika – this emergence of flowers in usually what is indicated by the bloom forecasts. The peak, or mankai – the time when the most trees are in full bloom – occurs within about one week of emergence. In some years, the season extends into the month of May in the northern regions.

The Lantern festival other-wise call the festival of spring

The lantern festival is celebrated in the new year,early January. What exactly is this holiday?The Lantern Festival or the Spring Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolarChinese calendar. Usually falling in February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE-CE 25), it had become a festival with great significance.  China loves their Chinese festivals, such as Chinese New Year and Tomb Sweeping Festival,  and it doesn’t skimp out when it comes to Chinese Valentine’s Day either.
cherry blossom fashion skirt
During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns (simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜; traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎; pinyin: cāidēngmí; Jyutping: caai1 dang1 mai4).

Lantern Festival (元宵節)
Official name	yuánxiāo jié (元宵節 / 上元節)
Observed by	Chinese, Taiwanese
Type	Cultural
Significance	Marks the end of theLunar New Year
Observances	Flying of paper lanterns; Consumption oftangyuan
Date	15th day of the 1st month (lunisolar year)
2019 date	February 19
2020 date	February 8
2021 date	February 26
Related to	Chotrul Duchen (in Tibet) Daeboreum (in Korea) Koshōgatsu (in Japan) Magha Puja (in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos) Tết Nguyên Tiêu (in Vietnam)

Lantern Festival Why is it called the Chinese Lantern Festival? This Chinese festival is known in English as the Lantern Festival because watching lanterns 灯笼 (dēnglóng) in different shapes and sizes is one of the main attractions of this special day. What is the origin of the Chinese Lantern Festival? There are different versions of the legend behind it, but this is one of the most popular ones: In ancient times a holy crane flew from heaven to Earth, but when it landed the holy creature got lost and killed by some villagers that thought it was a fierce beast. The Jade Emperor was extremely angry and upset when he heard that his favourite crane was killed by a human. He ordered his troops to go into the human world to destroy the whole village by fire on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. However, when the Jade Emperor’s daughter, a kind and graceful goddess, warned the villagers about the bad news, all of them fell into despair. An old and wise man was the only exception. He instructed the villagers to hang red lanterns around their houses and to set off fireworks and firecrackers to simulate a vast fire. When the army of the Jade Emperor came to destroy the village, they saw the lights, the smog and heard the noise of the explosions. They thought that the village was already set on fire and so they left.  Therefore, to celebrate how they survived from this crisis, people light lanterns 灯笼 (dēnglóng) and set off fireworks 鞭炮 ( biānpào ) on that day every year.