Festival package:
Beijing: $395/person (7 days)
Add. day - 40 $/person
Beijing-Dalian: 665$/person (8 days)
Add. day - 45$ / person
Beijing-Shanghai: 69 9 $ / person (8 days)
Add. day - 45$ / person
International festival-competition
"Pearl of the East"
gg. Dalian, Beijing, Shanghai
Location:
gg. Dalian, Beijing, Shanghai.
- International Festival Committee, Dalian.
- All-China Komsomol youth organization.
- Festival Committee “Life of Cities”, Moscow.
- Palace of Creativity for Children and Youth in Beijing.
- Palace of Children and Family Dalian.
Support: Dalian Ballet School (Dalian); Palace of Children and Youth Creativity, Palace of National Creativity (Beijing).
Strengthening creative, cultural and friendly ties;
Popularization of national culture of countries;
Getting to know the history and traditions of China.
Composition and age of participants:
Children's and adult amateur groups;
I age group - 5-10 years; II age group - 11-14 years; III age group - 15-20 years; IV age group - professionals from 21 years old.
Genres and forms of participation:
Choreography - folk, classical, pop and modern (soloists, ensembles and small forms);
Vocals - folk, pop (soloists and ensembles);
Instrumental music - folk, classical (soloists, ensembles and orchestras);
Theater of various stage forms (pantomime, clowning, etc.);
Gymnastics;
Fashion theatres;
Circus;
Artistic and decorative arts.
In a programme:
Performances and creative evenings by Russian and Chinese artists;
Exhibitions, master classes, plein airs;
Varied cultural and entertainment programs;
Festival buffet
Acceptance of applications for participation in the festival ends 20 days before departure for the festival;
The number of team members is not limited;
The festival organizing committee has the right not to include in the general program concert performances of groups that do not correspond to the traditions and customs of the country where the festival is held, as well as the program of the festival concert;
By agreement with the organizing committee, the duration of the performance program can be increased;
For participation in more than 2 categories, an additional festival fee is charged - $15 per person.
If there are more than 2 soloists in one group, then the organizing committee has the right to include 1-2 soloists for performances in different cities for 1 solo number, if the concert time is limited by the host party;
Musical accompaniment can be performed live or in the form of a soundtrack. Phonograms must be of high quality and recorded in 2 versions - on a mini-disc and CD;
Requirements for work in the category “Fine Art and DPI”
Painting: 1-2 works (diptych, triptych is considered as one work);
Graphics: no more than 3 sheets representing one series;
Decorative-applied and monumental-decorative art (DPI and MDI): tapestry no more than 1 work, small plastic art and jewelry art no more than 5 works, stained glass and mosaics no more than 1 project;
Sculpture: no more than 3 works;
An artist (group of artists) can participate in one nomination.
All works must be aesthetically designed by the artists: graphics are framed and matted, and a backing is made for jewelry. Mosaics and stained glass windows are framed and require a stand or fasteners for hanging.
The repertoire of groups does not include Arabic dances in the style of "Belly Dance" performed by children under the age of 16, as well as performed by adult members of groups, unless this is provided for in the Regulations of festivals and competitions abroad;
It is allowed to invite relatives and friends to the festival as a support group or for recreation;
Performance times and concert venues are approved by the organizing committee of the festival country and are not subject to revision for individual participants. The program may include early meetings/performances or creative meetings in children's institutions, but not earlier than 10.00 am.
Accreditation procedure for the festival:
You must submit to the festival committee office:
Application for participation indicating the name of the group, genre, number of performers, leaders and city representatives accompanying the group to the festival;
Brief creative information about the team;
The group's program for this festival;
List of staff (in Latin font) for issuing air tickets, medical insurance and hotel reservations;
List of hotel accommodations in China;
Apply for a visa to festival participants or apply for a visa by the Organizing Committee;
Prepare souvenirs from cities for official events.
Accommodation in a 3-4 star hotel, depending on the program (checkout time at the hotel is 12:00), accommodation for 2 people, exception of 3 people in case of an odd number;
Meals according to the program;
Transfer airport-hotel-airport and according to the festival program;
According to the concert program approved by the organizing committee, group dinners can be moved more than 2-2.5 hours later and 1 hour earlier or replaced with lunches at an agreed time. During early concerts (meetings) in children's institutions, groups have breakfast before the concert, but not earlier than 7.00 in the morning.
The organizing committee, at the request of the group, sends additional invitations to the sponsors of the groups and other persons wishing to go to the festival.
Jury: consists of Chinese cultural figures and representatives of cultural associations for friendship with Russia. The decisions of the jury are not subject to discussion and are not commented on by members of the jury for individual managers.
Prizes and awards:
Diplomas in Russian and Chinese, souvenirs, and special prizes;
Grand Prix of the Chinese International Festival Committee for high artistic level;
Prize “For the preservation and promotion of original Russian art”;
People's Choice Award.
Note:
Medical insurance is issued at the place of residence and must be carried with you during all travel, excursions and festival events, including rehearsals. If an insured event occurs and the group leader does not have an insurance policy with him, he bears full responsibility for paying for medical care to the victim.
Parents accompanying their children pay for the festival ticket on a general basis. All organizational issues regarding the group’s presence at the festival are resolved directly with the group leader. Parents are prohibited from interfering in the creative and organizational process of the festival or making any adjustments to the program.
Festival package:
Add. day - 40$ / person
Add. day - 45$ / person
Add. day - 45$ / person
Festival-competition “Pearl of the East” in China with the support of the Chinese Youth Union, the Department of Culture of Beijing, the director of the Children's Palace of Creativity in Beijing, as well as the Russian Embassy in Beijing. The festival is covered by the Chinese media as an important cultural event. We invite you to plunge into the enchanting world of Southeast Asia, taste the atmosphere of ancient places, and visit the capital of the Celestial Empire, Beijing!
Attention! Combined tours through the cities of Shanghai, Dalian, with rest and performances on the island of Hainan are possible. The program is adjusted upon submission of an application.
Day 1
Arrival in Beijing, accommodation at a hotel in the center of Beijing
Rest. Walk around the city.
Purchasing Chinese souvenirs.
- a city with a rich historical past. It is one of the most important cultural, historical and administrative cities in China. It leads in the number of foreign tourists visiting it. Beijing has preserved many ancient architectural structures, former imperial parks, ritual monuments, and they are accompanied by unique nature and landscapes. You are left with an unforgettable impression.
Tiananmen Square (Tianan Men) - Gate of Heavenly Peace Square is located in the very center of Beijing, south of the famous Forbidden City. Currently, this area, stretching from north to south for 880 m, and from west to east - for 500 m, is one of the largest areas in the world.
Day 2
Breakfast in the hotel.
Excursion to a section of the Great Wall of China.
Badaling Outpostis located in the southern part of Yanqing County, 75 km. from the city center. This section of the Great Wall is located at a high altitude and has a majestic, impregnable appearance. It served as a barrier to the capital city of Beijing, and the Badaling outpost during the Ming Dynasty played the role of the most important strategic passage in the Great Wall.
Dinner.
Sightseeing tour of Beijing.
You will see the city with its ancient buildings and sights with history. Visit the Olympic venues. The Chinese invested a lot of effort and money into creating everything necessary for the Olympics, and it was worth it! Now you can admire stadiums and sports grounds at any time - they always equally amaze the imagination and delight the eye. Take part in a real Chinese tea ceremony and become the owner of hidden knowledge.
Day 3
Breakfast in the hotel.
For extra fee (optional): excursion toPeace Park.Peace Park, covering an area of 46.7 hectares, is located in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. It is a theme park in which more than 100 replicas of the most famous architectural monuments from 50 countries have been created. For example, the leaning tower in Pisa in Italy, the Eiffel Tower in France, etc.
Day 4
Breakfast in the hotel.
For extra fee (optional): visit to the Happy Valley amusement park.
This is where your biggest and most amazing adventure begins. A world full of joy and happiness is open to you. It houses more than 100 different attractions, a seven-screen IMAX theater and a shopping complex. It consists of six indoor theme parks themed around Ancient Greece, Fairytale Kingdom, Mayan Empire, Antland, Wild Fjord and Atlantis. The central park is Atlantis, which serves as a focal point for visitors.
Children are completely delighted with traveling through different civilizations and meeting different fairy-tale characters. For adults, the park also has a lot of entertainment - breathtaking water slides, roller coasters, giant swings. In addition to the attractions, costume shows are regularly held.
Day 5- festival day
Breakfast in the hotel.
Festival "Pearl of the East". Performing as part of the festival at famous venues in Beijing together with Chinese artists. Gala Concert.
Awarding diplomas and prizes. General festival photography. Exchange of souvenirs.
Day 6
Breakfast in the hotel.
For extra fee (optional): excursion to the "Pearl" market".
The abundance of jewelry made from the world-famous Chinese pearls makes your eyes wide open! You can even buy pearls “by weight”! Each seller has scales. Our children's groups willingly buy their mothers a Chinese gift made of pearls. But in this case, you need to bargain and there must be an adult or a guide nearby so that the child receives the correct change from the seller. At the Pearl Market, an entire floor is represented by electronics: mobile phones, disks, flash drives, cameras. But be careful when purchasing: there may not be a Russian translation in the documents for this product.
Visit to the Chinese Circus.
Day 7
Breakfast in the hotel. Airport transfer. Flight to Moscow.
Note:
The tour price includes: accommodation in 3-star hotels in 2-3-bed rooms 7 days/6 nights, with breakfast and festive lunch, excursions according to the program, transfer (from 16 people), transport services during the festival days and excursions according to the program, accompaniment by a local guide - translator, festival and cultural programs, jury, prizes and awards.
Paid additionally: d For those departing from Moscow: an air ticket to Beijing and back can be purchased independently or with the help of the Festival Organizing Committee. A Chinese visa is issued in your region or in Moscow. The cost of an individual visa in Moscow is 5,650 rubles. Medical insurance is issued independently. Festival fee - $15, solo - $30$.
For those flying from other regions: air tickets, medical insurance and visas are arranged independently through local airlines. Please be sure to provide the Organizing Committee of the festival in Moscow with the telephone numbers of the airline that purchases your air tickets in the region.
Additional excursion program by agreement.
Required documents:
Application, group list (full name, passport number, date of birth, passport expiration date - according to the foreign passport) with placement by number, repertoire. When applying for a visa in Moscow, a list of documents is sent additionally.
*Departures from other regions of Russia are possible.
**Program available in Shanghai and Dalian with additional payment
Festival package:
Beijing: $395/person (7 days)
Add. day - 40$ / person
Beijing-Dalian: $665/person (8 days)
Add. day - 45$ / person
Beijing-Shanghai: $699/person (8 days)
Add. day - 45$ / person
Festival-competition “Pearl of the East” in China with the support of the Chinese Youth Union, the Department of Culture of Dalian, the STS Company and personally Mr. LI, director of the Children's Palace of Creativity in Beijing, as well as the Russian Embassy in Beijing and the Russian Consulate in Shanghai. The festival is covered by the Chinese media as an important cultural event.
We invite you to plunge into the enchanting world of Southeast Asia, taste the atmosphere of ancient places, visit the capital of the Celestial Empire, Beijing and the modern city of Dalian!
Attention! Combined tours through the cities of Shanghai are possible, with rest and performances on Hainan Island. The program is adjusted upon submission of an application.
Festival participation program:
Day 1
Departure from Moscow or any region.
Arrival in Beijing, accommodation at a hotel in the center of Beijing. Rest. Walk around the city. Purchasing Chinese souvenirs. Dinner.
Tiananmen Square - the Gate of Heavenly Peace Square is located in the heart of Beijing, south of the famous Forbidden City. Currently, this area, stretching 880 m from north to south, and 500 m from west to east, is one of the largest areas in the world.
Day 2 - festival and competition day
Breakfast in the hotel.ETo Excursion to a section of the Great Wall of China.
Opening of the festival "Pearl of the East".
Joint performance as part of the festival with young Chinese artists at the Beijing Children's Art Palace. The jury is working. Exhibition for artists and craftsmen of decorative and applied arts.
Taking photos together.
Exchange of souvenirs and gifts.
Dinner.
Day 3
Breakfast in the hotel.
For extra fee (optional): in Peace Park.
Peace Park, covering an area of 46.7 hectares, is located in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. It is a theme park in which more than 100 replicas of the famous architectural monuments of 50 countries of the world. For example, the leaning tower in Pisa in Italy, the Eiffel Tower in France, etc.
Visit to the Chinese National Silk Museum Center.
Cocoon, silkworm, caterpillar - not very pleasant words, right? However, this is the beginning of the Chinese beauty of silk material. The history of sericulture goes back far, far into the old days. There is a legend about silk fabric. The wife of the Yellow Emperor of China, Leizu, saw the cocoon of a silkworm and, out of curiosity, began to unravel it. This rare fabric called silk was intended for the imperial family. In the palace chambers they wore clothes made of white silk, and when receiving guests they wore yellow silk. As silk production expanded, it was also worn by the poorer classes of China. Today, Chinese silk is the most expensive and famous fabric in the world. Every fashion house considers it an honor to make clothes for world stars from Chinese silk. You can buy wonderful gifts for your loved ones, clothes and silk blankets that the Queen of England herself loves from the famous Chinese silk.
In the evening, depart to Dalian by a comfortable train.
Day 4
Arrival in Dalian. Hotel accommodation.
The most beautiful city in China, Dalian is located at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula in northern China. It is surrounded on three sides by the sea. Blue skies, turquoise waters, white sand, black reefs - this is the coastal landscape of Dalian. Residents call their city “a city steeped in romance.” It's a very clean city, it's cool and pleasant. Numerous lawns wrap around everything like ribbons. European-style buildings shine in their splendor under the bright sun. Walking along the alleys of the city, you can see the sea from everywhere through the lush crowns of trees.
Excursion to the kung fu school. Kung Fu Masters Show. Meeting with school students, taking photographs.
Excursion to the Japanese thermal spa (for executives and adults; another excursion for children), in which the water used is obtained from an underground source from a depth of 1 km. (jacuzzi, salt and herbal baths, massages, traditional Chinese rejuvenation methods, various specialized saunas, etc.).
Dinner.
Day 5
-
festival day
Breakfast in the hotel. Optionalexcursion to Dalian Oceanarium, one of the most amazing in the world, where you will see not only a show of dolphins, killer whales and white whales, but you can also watch penguins, seals and other marine animals.
Dinner.
Closing of the festival.
Performance as part of the festival at the Dalian Ballet School. Awarding diplomas and prizes. General photography. Exchange of souvenirs.
Day 6
Breakfast in the hotel.
Z and additional fee (optional): visit to the water park.
Free time.
Dinner.
In the evening - departure to Beijing on a comfortable train (possibly to Harbin - for groups from Yakutia).
Day 7
Arrival in Beijing. Breakfast.
Hotel accommodation.
A trip to the Pearl Market. The abundance of jewelry made from the world-famous Chinese pearls makes your eyes wide open! You can even buy pearls “by weight”! U Each seller has scales. Our children's groups willingly buy their mothers a Chinese gift made of pearls. But in this case you need to trade
An adult or guide must be present and nearby so that the child receives the correct change from the seller. At the Pearl Market, an entire floor is represented by electronics: mobile phones, disks, flash drives, cameras. But be careful when purchasing: there may not be a Russian translation in the documents for this product.
Free time. Purchasing souvenirs.
Visit to the Chinese Circus. Famous magic shows.
Dinner.
Day 8
Breakfast. Airport transfer. Flight to Moscow.
*The program may be adjusted for reasons beyond the control of the Organizing Committee.
Note:
The tour price includes: accommodation in 3-4 star hotels in 2-3-bed rooms, two meals a day (breakfast - buffet, dinner - menu in the restaurant), excursions according to the program, all transfers, meet and greet, transport services during the festival days and excursions around program, support by a manager from Moscow and a local guide-translator, tickets for a comfortable Beijing-Dalian-Beijing train (reserved seat, 6-seater compartment), festival and cultural programs, jury, prizes and awards.,.
Paid additionally: for those flying from Moscow: an air ticket to Beijing and back can be purchased independently or with the help of the Festival Organizing Committee. A Chinese visa is issued in your region or in Moscow. The cost of an individual visa in Moscow is 5,650 rubles. Medical insurance is issued independently. Festival fee - $15, solo - $30..
For those flying from other regions: air tickets, medical insurance and visas are arranged independently through local airlines.
Please be sure to provide the Organizing Committee of the festival in Moscow with the telephone numbers of the airline that purchases your air tickets in the region.
Excursions: water park, aquarium, Disneyland.
Additional excursion program by agreement.
Required documents:
Application, group list (full name, passport number, date of birth, passport expiration date - according to the foreign passport) with placement by number, repertoire. When applying for a visa in Moscow, a list of documents is sent additionally
Festival package:
Beijing: $395/person (7 days)
Add. day - 40$ / person
Beijing-Dalian: $665/person (8 days)
Add. day - 45$ / person
Beijing-Shanghai: $699/person (8 days)
Add. day - 45$ / person
Festival-competition “Pearl of the East” in China with the support of the Chinese Youth Union, the Department of Culture of Dalian, the CTS Company and personally Mr. LI, director of the Children's Palace of Creativity in Beijing, as well as the Russian Embassy in Beijing and the Russian Consulate in Shanghai. The festival is covered by the Chinese media as an important cultural event.
We invite you to plunge into the enchanting world of Southeast Asia, taste the atmosphere of ancient places, visit the capital of the Celestial Empire, Beijing and the modern city of Shanghai!
Beijing is a city with a rich historical past. It is one of the most important cultural, historical and administrative cities in China. It leads in the number of foreign tourists visiting it. Beijing has preserved many ancient architectural structures, former imperial parks, ritual monuments, and they are accompanied by unique nature and landscapes. You are left with an unforgettable impression.
Tiananmen Square - the Gate of Heavenly Peace Square is located in the heart of Beijing, south of the famous Forbidden City. Currently, this area, stretching from north to south for 880 m, and from west to east - for 500 m, is one of the largest areas in the world.
“Pearl” market” (optional). The abundance of jewelry made from the world-famous Chinese pearls makes your eyes wide open! You can even buy pearls “by weight”! Each seller has scales. Our children's groups willingly buy their mothers a Chinese gift made of pearls. But in this case, you need to bargain and there must be an adult or a guide nearby so that the child receives the correct change from the seller. At the Pearl Market, an entire floor is represented by electronics: mobile phones, disks, flash drives, cameras. But be careful when purchasing: there may not be a Russian translation in the documents for this product.
Dinner
Day 2
Badaling Outpost is located in the southern part of Yanqing County, 75 km away. from the city center. This section of the Great Wall is located at a high altitude and has a majestic, impregnable appearance. It served as a barrier to the capital city of Beijing, and the Badaling outpost during the Ming Dynasty played the role of the most important strategic passage in the Great Wall.
A trip to the Pearl Factory, where everyone can see how real pearls are grown, and also learn about their healing properties. Learn how some of the most valuable jewelry is created and much more!
Visit to the Chinese Circus. Famous magical and amazing performances!
Dinner. In the evening - departure on a comfortable train to Shanghai.
Day 3
Arrival in Shanghai.
Shanghai is the meeting place of East and West, a kind of New York of China. Impressive Art Deco buildings, Art Nouveau banks, and department stores of communist architecture adorn the embankment of the Huangpu River. From here begins the largest shopping street in China - Nanjing Street (Nanjing Lu), where all tourists are sure to be brought. This is a pedestrian avenue with a large number of shops, both international and Chinese brands. Among other streets of the metropolis, it is worth visiting Dolunlu and ancient Laojie. The city stands on the banks of the Yangtze River and its tributary, the Huangpu. The Waitan embankment stretches along Huangpu. (The performance in Shanghai is carried out with a certain number of accredited participants traveling to Shanghai).
Joint performance as part of the festival with young Chinese artists.
Greetings to festival participants.
Taking photos together. Exchange of souvenirs and gifts.
Free time. Optional (for an additional fee) Cruise on a double-deck motor ship with a bar along the famous Huang-pu River with a panorama of magnificent palaces and historical buildings
Visit to the Chinese National Silk Museum Center.
Cocoon, silkworm, caterpillar - not very pleasant words, right? However, this is the beginning of the Chinese beauty of silk material. The history of sericulture goes back far, far into the old days. There is a legend about silk fabric. The wife of the Yellow Emperor of China, Leizu, saw the cocoon of a silkworm and, out of curiosity, began to unravel it. This rare fabric called silk was intended for the imperial family. In the palace chambers they wore clothes made of white silk, and when receiving guests they wore yellow silk. As silk production expanded, it was also worn by the poorer classes of China. Today, Chinese silk is the most expensive and famous fabric in the world. Every fashion house considers it an honor to make clothes for world stars from Chinese silk. You can buy wonderful gifts for your loved ones, clothes and silk blankets that the Queen of England herself loves from the famous Chinese silk. General photography. Exchange of souvenirs.
Note:
The tour price includes:
accommodation in 3-star hotels in double rooms, two meals a day (breakfast - buffet, dinner - menu in the restaurant), excursions according to the program, all transfers, meet and greet, transport services during the festival days and excursions according to the program, support by a manager from Moscow and a local guide-translator, tickets for a comfortable Beijing-Shanghai-Beijing train (reserved seat, 6-seater compartment), festival and cultural programs, jury, prizes and awards.
Paid additionally:
for those flying from Moscow: an air ticket to Beijing and back can be purchased independently or with the help of the Festival Organizing Committee. A Chinese visa is issued in your region or in Moscow. The cost of an individual visa in Moscow is 5,650 rubles. Medical insurance is issued independently. Festival fee - $15, solo - $30.
Mid-Autumn Festival is a unique event celebrated in China and Vietnam. Its other name, the Lunar Festival, fully corresponds to the specifics of the celebration. The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, which falls in September or early October of the Gregorian calendar, when the full moon can be seen in the sky. On this night, residents of big cities go out into the streets to admire the night light and taste unusual delicacies - “mooncakes” (round cupcakes with various fillings).
By the full moon, the Chinese complete the harvest, and the round disk of the night luminary (correlated in the Chinese tradition with the feminine principle) symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Following ancient beliefs, a lot of incense is burned to please Chanye, the mythical woman of the moon. Her companion is a rabbit who poundes the potion of immortality in a mortar. According to legend, the beautiful Chang'e mistakenly drank the potion of immortality, which served as a reward for her lover Hui. A well-aimed archer managed to shoot down nine stars, the light of which could overheat the earth, for which the Emperor gave him an elixir, which he was supposed to drink in small sips. Having drunk the forbidden drink in one gulp, Chang'e flew to the moon, and Huoi, after death, ascended to the sun. Since then, lovers can meet only once a year, on the 15th day of the eighth month.
During the lunar festival, the streets are lively - families walk until the morning, which children are especially happy about. They are not averse to eating “mooncakes”, which are abundant everywhere. By the way, it is believed that these sweets played a special role in the history of China. With their help, in the 14th century, public figures managed to raise a rebellion against the Yuan dynasty. Despite the ban on holding meetings, activist Liu Futong distributed many gingerbread cookies, each of which contained a note calling for the overthrow of the government.
The first day of the Chinese calendar (Spring Festival) marks the beginning of the year. According to the Chinese, on this day spring begins, nature awakens, the earth and the sprouts of life it preserves come to life. In a close family circle, incense and fireworks are lit, which are designed to scare away evil spirits
Chinese New Year, which after 1911 in literal translation is called the Spring Festival (Chinese: 春节, pinyin: Chūnjié, Chunjie):12 has been the main and longest holiday in China since ancient times:11. The traditional New Year is timed to coincide with the winter new moon at the end of the full lunar cycle, which took place after the winter solstice (that is, on the second new moon after December 21). In the Gregorian calendar, this corresponds to one of the days between January 21 and February 21. However, the traditional calendar is rarely used [source not specified 569 days], and the country first celebrates the New Year on January 1, and then the traditional one.
Chinese New Year is often informally referred to as the "Lunar New Year" because it is a derivative of the lunisolar Chinese calendar and its exact date is determined based on the phases of the moon. These days usually turn into a festival, which traditionally begins on the first day of the first month (正月 zhēng-yuè) of the Chinese calendar and ends with the Lantern Festival, which occurs on the 15th day of celebrations. During this New Year's season, most Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner.
Each new year is associated with one of the 12 animals and one of the five elements. The first day of the New Year begins with the release of fireworks and firecrackers and the burning of incense. Fireworks are supposed to scare away evil spirits and thereby attract a spirit of peace and happiness into the family. At the end of the day, the family welcomes the deities home after their visit to the spirit world, where they "gave an account" of the past year, and then pays respect to the ancestors.
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important holiday in the Chinese lunar calendar. The origins of this holiday date back to ancient times, and in its current form it reflects symbolic respect for the myths, beliefs and traditions preserved in Chinese society - this holiday has become a reflection of how people behaved and what they believed throughout the centuries. history of China.
According to the Chinese, on this first day of spring, nature awakens, the calculation of a new annual cycle begins, the earth and the sprouts of life it preserves come to life. This holiday is significant not only for the Han Chinese, but also for national minorities. It is celebrated by the Manchus, Mongols, Yaotians, Zhuangs, Gaoshans, Daurs, Dongs, Liyans and other ethnic communities. [source not specified 959 days]
According to the Shangshu narrative (舜典:2), the first day of the New Year was the day on which Shun 舜 (the exemplary sovereign of antiquity) ascended the throne. Yu, who received the throne from him, followed this calendar precedent.
New Year's celebrations in China end with the Lantern Festival.
According to ancient myth, at the beginning of each new year, the Chinese were forced to fight against a mythical animal called Nien (Chinese: 年). Nien came on the first day of the New Year to devour livestock, grain and food supplies, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, residents placed food at the entrance to the room, opposite the door, with the arrival of each new year. Moreover, according to legend, it was believed that the more food there was, the kinder and more compliant the beast would be. People believed that after Nien was satisfied with the food that was prepared for him, he would not attack people anymore and would leave them alone.
One day people saw that the Beast was afraid of a small child who was dressed in red clothes and decided that he was afraid of the color red. Thus, from that time on, every time the New Year comes, people hang red lanterns and red scrolls on the windows and doors of their homes. It was also common to use fireworks to scare Nien away. Following the listed traditions of the inhabitants forced the beast to bypass their settlements.
Subsequently, Nien was captured by Hongjun Laozi), an ancient Taoist monk, and, under his supervision, over a long time turned into Hongjun Laozi Mountain.
About Chinese culinary culture
Public holidays in China
Traditional Chinese holidays are an integral part of Chinese culture, which has been formed over thousands of years.Hardworking, active Chinese also like to have a good rest. Chinese holidays are often inseparable from Chinese festivals - very beautiful festive and spectacular events. The Chinese celebrate noisily, on a grand scale, preparing carefully and for a long time for each event. Visiting such a festival is a chance to deeply feel the soul of China.
Although from the beginning of the twentieth century, after the fall of the monarchy, China officially switched to the Western Gregorian calendar, the country traditionally continues to celebrate the largest national holidays according to the thousand-year lunar calendar. And the main holiday of the country remains Chinese New Year(Lunar New Year). They call him now Spring Festival, Spring Festival to distinguish it from the Gregorian New Year, which is celebrated 1st of January.
Chinese New Year does not have a fixed date - it falls on first day of the first lunar month in the new year. This usually happens in late January – early February. In 2017, New Year's Day 28 January. Festive events and celebrations last 15 days! The whole country is on vacation and noisily celebrates the main event of the year. On the eve of the first day of the Spring Festival, everyone does a thorough cleaning, buys a lot of food, and buys new clothes, especially for children. Near the entrance to their homes, the Chinese hang paired scrolls on red paper with poetic sayings, hang the hieroglyph 福 (“fu”, “happiness”) on the door and decorate the windows with cut-out paper figures. In the evening, all families gather around the table for a luxurious dinner, and after it they communicate, have fun, play, some families do not sleep all night... Continuous fireworks are especially intense at midnight. The next morning, the Chinese begin visiting their relatives and friends to congratulate them on the holiday, wish them good luck in the New Year, and give sweets and gifts wrapped in red paper. The annual festive costumed festivals and processions and traditional entertainment events are in full swing on the streets.
Spring Festival ends Lantern Festival, which falls on 15th lunar day of the first month. In 2017 this is 11 February.
On this night, the first full moon of the year occurs and, according to Chinese tradition, to watch the bright full moon, you need to hang out as many colorful lanterns as possible. They are hung in huge numbers on the streets, and at night they walk, admire them and solve the riddles written on them, which contain phrases about well-being, a bountiful harvest, family reunification, love and happiness.
According to the old tradition, on this day people eat rice balls with various sweet fillings(Yuanxiao, 元宵), which with their round shape symbolize harmony, reunification and the good life. “Dragons” (people dressed as dragons) dance in the streets, costumed processions move, round dances take place...
This is a most beautiful sight - an ocean of lanterns in the night! Traditionally, lanterns are made of paper or wood, and in large cities they are accompanied by neon ones. There are also lanterns of unusual designs, in the form of fruits, flowers, various animals, for example, in the form of a golden dragon spewing flames. At night, grandiose fireworks blaze, making this great holiday truly fabulous.
In spring, people celebrate another bright and kind holiday - Qingming. This is also a public holiday, and all Chinese have a day off on this day. He's coming 4 or 5th of April(in 2017 this is April 4) and marks the beginning of sunny and bright days, the beginning of the sowing period. On this day, people take nature excursions, walk along spring streets, organize picnics, enjoy spring, and feed on the energy of nature. The trees are already green, the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining brightly. On this day, they always remember those who are no longer alive, go to their burial places, remove garbage there, organize memorial dinners, and pay tribute.
During the Qingming Festival, another beautiful tradition can be observed - many kites are launched into the sky, with small lanterns attached to them. When it gets dark, this spectacle looks especially impressive - lanterns decorate the night sky like twinkling stars.
A month later, 1st of May, in China they celebrate the world Workers' Day. Festive events are held all day in theaters, parks, and squares. People meet with friends, with relatives, with those whom they have not seen for a long time, walk, communicate, and relax with them.
On fifth day of the fifth month According to the Chinese lunar calendar, a big holiday is coming, which is celebrated not only in China, but also in many countries of Southeast Asia, - Dragon Boat Festival. In 2017 this is May 30.
The festival has been held for more than two thousand years, in memory of the famous Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who drowned in the river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, unable to watch the wars and decline of his country. People rushed to look for his body, sailing on boats along the river and at the same time throwing rice balls into the water - food for fish and other aquatic animals so that they would not eat the body of the legendary poet. Later, paying tribute to the poet, people began to honor him on this day every year. This is how the traditional Chinese dish was born - zongzi (粽子) - lumps of rice wrapped in reed leaves and tied with colored thread. Nowadays, they add various fillings - meat, soy paste, marmalade, egg yolk. On this day, Zongzi is thrown into the water and eaten at home and in restaurants.
And every year, on the day of the poet’s death, a ritual is held - a race on boats painted and decorated to look like warlike dragons. Teams, each on their own boat, compete against each other to be the first to reach a designated destination. At the head of the boat sits a drummer, tapping a rhythm to which the crew rows.
On this day, caring Chinese parents hang bags of incense embroidered with silk threads of five different colors around the necks of their children. The five-color thread has a special meaning in China - it has magical and healing properties. Such bags protect children from disease and evil, attract health and well-being.
Following the sunny summer comes a changeable autumn... 15th day of the eighth month According to the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate Harvest Festival - Mid-Autumn Festival. It is also called Moon Festival or Lunar Festival- This is the day of the autumn equinox.
In 2017 this is The 4th of October. This is a holiday as significant for the Chinese as the Chinese New Year - on this day they celebrate the end of the harvest. The full moon, the brightest and roundest on this day, symbolizes prosperity and abundance, so on this day all family members get together and celebrate it with a hearty festive lunch. During lunch, you need to talk only about good things, admire the moon, think about those who are now far away, and mentally send them your best wishes...
On this day, festive lanterns are hung and lit everywhere on the streets - on buildings, houses, trees. Incense is lit. People dressed as Dragons dance in the streets, expressing the ritual of moon worship through their dances, attracting the attention of the people.
The traditional treat for the Mid-Autumn Festival is Yuebing mooncakes(, 月饼). They have a round shape, repeating the shape of the moon. Various fillings are placed inside - nuts, fruits, vegetables - and pictures and hieroglyphs are imprinted on the surface of the cake. Depending on the culinary preferences of each province, the composition of the mooncake dough may differ, but all cakes always contain sesame seeds, nuts, sugar and egg yolk. People give cakes to family and friends to show them that they wish them a long and happy life.
In autumn, October 1, Many people gather at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to watch the ceremonial raising of the national flag. On this day, China celebrates.
October 1, 1949 is considered the Founding Day of the People's Republic of China. In all provinces of China, parades and ceremonial processions, concerts and exhibitions, and festive entertainment events take place on this day. City squares are decorated with huge compositions of fresh flowers. As evening falls, the sky lights up with grandiose fireworks displays in all cities, including Hong Kong. This holiday is of great importance to the Chinese people.
On this day they pray to Chaishen - the God of Wealth. The second important tradition is that married daughters can visit their parents. In the old days, a daughter could not visit her relatives at any time, those were the rules. She celebrated the New Year with her husband's family, and on the second day she was able to visit her relatives.
Naturally, now this tradition no longer exists in exactly this form. Modern Chinese simply go to their in-laws on this day.
The third day
This is the day of Chigou, the God of Furious Wrath. On this day, everyone should stay at home and not communicate. Nobody follows this tradition now.
Fourth day
Nothing unusual.
Fifth day
It is considered the birthday of the God of Wealth. It is believed that people use fireworks to attract his attention and earn the favor of this god in the new year. In honor of the God of Wealth, a dinner was previously held on this day, but this tradition has now almost disappeared.
Sixth day
Remove all accumulated trash from the house. During the previous five days, cleaning and taking out the trash is a bad omen.
Seventh day
It is considered the birthday of humanity, and everyone becomes one year older on this day. There is a tradition of preparing porridge from seven vegetables and rice on the seventh day, but this custom is now almost forgotten.
Eighth to fourteenth days
There are many traditions these days, because the ninth day marks the birthday of the main deity of Taoism - the Jade Emperor of Heaven. But now these traditions have almost disappeared, because these days are now working days.
Fifteenth day
Lantern Festival.
This is interesting - what not to do on New Year's Day
Chinese people try to refrain from bad words during the Spring Festival. This applies not only to insults or abuse, but to all words with a negative connotation. For example: death, loss, pain, illness and similar words. They are trying to replace them with some synonyms.
Also, the Chinese prefer not to take medications or see doctors unless absolutely necessary. It is believed that in this case you will be sick all year. However, this belief is now dying out.
It is a very bad omen to break something. If this happens, then you need to carefully collect all the pieces of the broken object in red paper and throw it away on the fifth day. It is also a bad omen to clean or wash clothes. You should not borrow or lend money yet.
It’s very bad - if a child cries, it can bring bad luck to the whole family, so they try to pamper children and not punish them during the Spring Festival.
Other bad omens include using a needle or scissors, cutting your hair, emptying any containers of rice, sleeping after lunch, and dressing in black and white clothes.
It’s interesting - what gifts can be given and what can’t be given?
The main New Year's gift in China is a red envelope with money inside. Such envelopes are even given to children, which is great.
There is no analogue of Santa Claus in China, although some newspapers, magazines or Internet sites are trying to pass off the God of Wealth as him. To be honest, such an analogy is “failed”, and these characters have nothing in common. Chinese parents give envelopes to their children themselves and do not try to claim that some god brought them.
In addition to envelopes with money, the Chinese also give each other ordinary gifts, but there are a huge number of restrictions.
You cannot give any sharp objects, which could “cut off” people’s relationships. You cannot give a watch, otherwise you will wish death on the giver, since in Chinese the words “watch” and “end” are consonant. You cannot give umbrellas; the words “umbrella” and “share” sound similar.
You cannot give mirrors, pearls, chrysanthemums, shoes, belts or ties, underwear, hats or wallets. You cannot yet give anything related to the number 4, or four items. You can't give something white or black.
This is probably why the Chinese prefer red envelopes with money. With so many restrictions, it is difficult to choose something.
Have a nice holiday, and read other interesting articles about China ( links below).