January 1st, 1912 was the founding day of the Republic of China (R.O.C.), and the inauguration of Dr. Sun Yatsen as China’s 1st President. It was also the same day that China began using the Western Calendar.

     On this day a flag raising ceremony is conducted in front of the presidential palace. Dragon dances, lion dances, and other folk art performances are performed to welcome in the New Year.

     Chinese Lunar New Year is by far the most anticipated and celebrated festival in Taiwan. It is usually celebrated on the first day of the first moon. Dragon dances, lion dances, the welcoming of the Prosperity God, and many other folk celebrations are all performed on this day.

     Families get together on New Year’s Eve to eat hotpots, (giant pots of boiling soup in which you can cook different types of meat and vegetables in front of you at the table – also popular in Korea), the meaning of which is to literally “feel the warmth of each other’s company”. By eating spinach (‘Changnian’ which means long-life) will bless families with long lives. Eating fish supposedly brings surpluses and good fortune to families. By eating New Year’s cakes it will bring people luck in their careers.

     Children are given new clothes to wear, to show that a new beginning has dawned. Children also receive red envelopes with money in them. At midnight, firecrackers are lit to scare off ghosts and ward off bad omens in the hopes of a good fortune in the coming new year.

    Although not an official public holiday, the Lantern Festival (also known as ‘Tourism Day’) is a colorful celebration which falls on the 15th day of the 1st moon. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the towns of Yenshui, Luerhmen and Peikang to watch and light fireworks displays. Because the fireworks occur in the middle of crowds, many wear helmets or towels on their heads, eye shields, goggles or masks, and extra thick jackets, pants and protective clothing, and especially ear plugs!

     Legend has it that wandering spirits could be seen under lamplights during the first full moon of the New Year. People then used lamps and torches to try and find spirits of their lost relatives, and so begun the Lantern Festival.

     The lantern exhibition at the Chiang Kaishek Memorial Hall Square is spectacular, with large lanterns and laser light shows. These giant lanterns are usually sponsored by businesses.

Every year people are hurt or injured by the fireworks in the crowd so prepare to find a safe spot for viewing and possibly bring protective clothing!

     This day commemorates a national tragedy. On February 28th, 1947 around 20,000 Taiwanese were massacred in a military crackdown against political dissent. No exact details were reported because of martial law restrictions on free speech at the time. It is also known as ‘Peace Memorial Day’.

    This unofficial public festival period commemorates the birthday of Kuanyin, goddess of mercy, on the 19th day of the 2nd moon, and is a good time for temple worship festivals.

     This holiday is in memory of 72 young revolutionaries that sacrificed themselves for the establishment of the R.O.C. in 1911.

    Remembering the past has always been an important element within Chinese culture. Families pay their respects to their ancestors by placing flowers on their graves and burning ghost money.

    This day also marks the anniversary of the death of the late President Chiang Kaishek in 1975.

    Matsu, goddess of the sea, is a friend and muse of all fishermen. This unofficial public festival falls on the 23rd day of the 3rd moon. Her birthday is celebrated across the island.

    Dajia Chenglan Temple has the longest history in Taiwan. One of the largest religious events here is the “Matsu Touring Event”. During this occasion, the whole town is in an absolute frenzy, and one can truly see the “power of religion” here.

    This festival occurs on the 5th day of the fifth moon. It was originally to welcome the harvest dragon that would bring bountiful yields to the people. Later, the festival became a day to remember a poet and politician, Chu Yuan, who died in the 4th Century B.C. in mainland China.

    The legend goes like this: Chu Yuan wanted to help change the corrupt government of his time but when his advice did not reach the ears of his king, and fearing the worst for his country, he committed suicide by jumping into the Yangtze River. Afraid that fish in the river would eat his body, the local people paddled their boats into the river and dropped rice balls into the water as a distraction. These ‘rice balls’, steamed rice dumplings wrapped in banana leaves (zhong4zi), serve as a traditional staple of the festival.

    Televised dragon boat races (colorful, dragon shaped canoes paddled by several rowers) are held in Taipei and other cities.

     Ghost Month is the 7th lunar month. Legend has it that ghosts are released from the underworld and return to haunt the earth at this time. It is supposedly a dangerous time to travel, give birth, go swimming, get married or move house. All funerals are postponed until the following month.

     People prepare tasty dishes, burn paper money and incense, and place offerings of food on small tables outside their homes and businesses to appease the ghosts. Oftentimes the air in the streets and alleys are filled with dirty soot, and the heat is almost unbearable (also because of the summer heat) if you happen to be walking or riding a scooter past a home or business with overzealous participants shoveling paper money into the flames of a giant metal barrel.

     It can be particularly odd for a visitor to witness the owners of “the other kind of KTV’s” (brothels) outside their businesses burning paper money by the truckload to pray for “better business”.

     Lovers’ Day, another non-official public celebration, falls on the seventh day of the seventh moon, and is the Taiwanese version of (St.) Valentine’s Day. Chinese Lovers’ Day is derived from the legend of the shepherd boy and the spinning girl. The shepherd boy (a star formation in the constellation Aquila, west of the Milky Way) and the spinning girl (the star Vega in the constellation Lyra, east of the Milky Way) appear closest together in the sky on this night and all the magpies on earth are said to ascend to the sky to form a bridge across the Milky way so that the lovers may cross over for their brief once-a-year tryst.

     Strangely enough, it usually falls during Ghost Month. The tradition is to go out for the evening, but western traditions like flowers, chocolates, and candy are gaining in popularity among the younger crowd. Young lovers usually head for parks and any high point with a view, often “fooling around” in their cars or under trees and bushes.

    The Ministry of National Defense felt that there should be an "Armed Forces Day" to honor the military as a collective body. It was officially inaugurated on September 3, 1995,

    Armed Forces Day has been celebrated not only by the official " Armed Forces Day Performance," but also by troop-cheering activities sponsored by civilian groups from all quarters honoring the nation's soldiers. During these activities, people chant slogans, carry signs, and hold competitions that instill the concept of "Honor for the Military and Love for the People" in the hearts of all soldiers and citizens. But perhaps most important to the men in uniform is the rare day-off military personnel are granted by the Ministry of National Defense on this occasion!

      Commonly known as “Moon Festival”, this celebration takes place on the 15th day of the 8th moon. Moon-gazing and fireworks displays are popular throughout the island. On this day families and friends get together to eat traditional ‘moon cakes’, available at any food store or bakery.

      There are many legends around the festival, such as the moon goddess, or rabbit, making medicine on the moon. According to one Chinese legend, Chang-Er, the beautiful wife of the Tang emperor Ming Huang, one day discovered a vial of the Elixir of Immortality specially prepared for her husband and decided to take a sip. But he caught her in the act and in order to conceal evidence, she quickly swallowed the entire portion. It took effect instantly and with such intensity that she immediately flew up from earth and landed on the moon. She been there ever since and on this night her beauty radiates at her very best.

    Confucius was born on September 28th, 551 B.C. His teachings have had a vast influence throughout East Asia. Confucian thought is also an important school of thought within today’s society. During this day, ceremonies celebrating his birthday are held in all Confucian Temples in the country around 4am. The ancient rituals have been passed down for more than 200 years.

     This holiday celebrates the Wuchang incident which led to the fall of the Manchu imperial government in China that occurred on October 10th, 1911 and the creation of the new nation of the Republic of China.

     Falling on the 10th day of the 10th month it is often referred to as the ‘Double 10th Day’. In recent years, the government has spent tens of millions of dollars in revenues to organize National Day fireworks, a huge display beside the Tamsui River, attracting many people both from inside and outside the country to watch. Big military parades are also held in Taipei near the Presidential Building.

    This holiday celebrates Taiwan’s return to the R.O.C. after 50 years of Japanese occupation.

     Chiang Kaishek, leader of the KMT political/military party, was born in mainland China in 1887 and after losing the country to Mao’s CCP, he fled with several million Chinese supporters, and many priceless Chinese art pieces, to Taiwan where he set up a new Chinese government with the hope of one day returning to ‘retake’ mainland China.

    The Constitution of the R.O.C. was promulgated on January 1st, 1947 and took effect on December 25th, 1945.