Customs of China
China, with its vast history spanning over thousands of years, boasts a diverse array of customs and traditions that continue to influence its society today.
Traditional Festival Customs
The Chinese lunar calendar is filled with important festivals, each with its own unique customs.
Spring Festival: The first day of the Lunar New Year, it is the most important traditional festival. Customs include posting Spring Festival couplets, setting off firecrackers, having a reunion dinner, visiting relatives and friends to wish them a happy new year, and giving red envelopes, all symbolizing bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new, as well as praying for good luck and peace in the coming year.
Lantern Festival: The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, also known as the Upper Lantern Festival or the Festival of Lights. People eat yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls), admire lanterns, and guess lantern riddles, expressing their beautiful expectations for future life.
Qingming Festival: Around April 4th or 5th of the Gregorian calendar, it is a day for ancestor worship and tomb-sweeping. People will visit graves, go hiking, and fly kites, expressing their fond memories and gratitude to their loved ones.
Mid-Autumn Festival: The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, it is the second most important traditional festival after the Spring Festival. People will admire the full moon, eat mooncakes, and drink osmanthus wine, symbolizing unity and happiness.
Marriage and Funeral Customs
Marriage Customs: They include steps such as engagement, selecting a auspicious date, preparing for the wedding, and the wedding ceremony. On the wedding day, the bride and groom will perform rituals such as bowing to the ancestors and drinking the wine of unity, while friends and family will celebrate by playing tricks on the newlyweds. Different regions and ethnic groups also have their unique marriage customs.
Funeral Customs: After the death of a Han Chinese person, a series of funeral rites will be performed, such as announcing the death, dressing the deceased, keeping vigil, and the funeral procession. These rites reflect respect and memory for the deceased.
Dietary Customs
China's dietary culture is extensive and profound. Chinese people pay attention to the color, aroma, taste, shape, and utensils of food, emphasizing the freshness of ingredients and the superb cooking skills. Different regions and ethnic groups also have their unique cuisines and delicacies. For example, Sichuan cuisine is famous for its spicy and numbing taste, Cantonese cuisine is known for its freshness, and Jiangnan cuisine emphasizes light flavors.
Social Etiquette Customs
Titles: Chinese people value polite and appropriate titles. For elders or superiors, respectful titles or honorifics are usually used; for peers or juniors, more intimate titles can be used.
Hosting Guests: Chinese people are warm and hospitable, and entertaining guests is a common social activity. When hosting guests, the host will enthusiastically invite them to eat and drink more, while the guests need to politely decline multiple times.
Gift Giving: When giving gifts, Chinese people focus on the symbolic meaning and intention of the gift. They usually choose gifts with symbolic meanings, such as auspicious ornaments and food. When receiving gifts, Chinese people generally do not open them on the spot but will politely thank the giver.
Other Customs
Tea Culture: China is the hometown of tea, and tea culture has a deep history and tradition in China. People perform tea art performances, taste tea, and engage in other activities to enjoy the pleasure and tranquility brought by tea.
Calligraphy and Painting: Calligraphy and painting are important components of traditional Chinese culture, with unique artistic charm. People practice calligraphy and painting to cultivate their sentiments and improve their aesthetic level.
Folk Art and Martial Arts: Traditional Chinese folk art includes opera, acrobatics, etc., while traditional martial arts are a unique sports culture. These artistic and sporting activities not only enrich people's cultural life but also reflect the cultural spirit and unique charm of the Chinese nation.