Religious Origin

Historical Event

Role, Status,

Occupation Famous People

Why do we make it a holiday and

a festival?

Other Holidays

Taiwan USA

Founding Anniversary of the R.O.C

(1/1)

Spring Festival

and its Eve(Lunar 1/1)

Tomb Sweeping Day (4/5)

Seventh Night of the

Seventh Lunar Month

April Fool’s

Day (4/1)

Valentine’s Day

(2/14)Dragon

Boat (Poet’s)

Festival (Lunar 5/5)

Moon(Mid-Autumn)

Festival (Lunar 8/15)

New Year and its Eve

(1/1)

The United States of America consists of fifty states plus Washington D.C. in North America.

Legal holidays are declared only on a state basis. Some states observe their own holidays.

April Fool's Day sometimes called All Fool's Day.

1. In 16 century, the start of a year was on April 1st.2. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new

calendar --- the new year fell on January first. 3. Some people who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date was called "April fools,” and

others played tricks on them.

Origin－

1. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is.

2. Send a "fool's errand" or tried to make people believe that something false is true.

Activities －

“The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.”

-American humorist Mark Twain

Origin－

Activities －

1. Since ancient times, a day has been designated for sweeping the tomb and honoring ancestors.

2. In 1935, the government of the ROC designated Ching Ming as Tomb Sweeping Day to further heighten the significance of this occasion.

Ching Ming － "clear and bright".

Grave cakes Jun ping.

Special Food －

1. Maintain their family grave sites ： a)Cleaning the site; b)Weeding and pruning; c)Repairing damages2. Worship their ancestors 3. Yan chih 4. Burning offering money5. Lighting firecrackers 6. Peeling and placing a duck egg

Dragon Boat FestivalDouble Fifth Festival

Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar monthWith Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival form the three major Chinese holidays.Origin － the summer is a time when diseases most easily spread, 　　　　　 Dragon Boat Festival began as an occasion for driving 　　　　　 off evil spirits and pestilence and for finding peace in 　　　　　 one's life. The festival was later enriched by the legend 　　　　　 of the patriot Chu Yuan. Activities － Dragon Boat Festival is highlighted by the dragon 　　　　　　　 boat races; hanging calamus and moxa on the front 　　　　　　　 door; pasting up pictures of Chung Kuei; Adults 　　　　　　　 drink hsiung huang wine and children are given 　　　　　　　 fragrant sachets; fetching noon water.

Special Food － tzung tzu

Mid-Autumn FestivalThe 15th day of the eight lunar monthThe clear and radiant moon has been a subject 　of Chinese poetry and song since ancient times. The moonlight of Mid-Autumn Festival brings particular warmth and ease to the hearts of the people of China.Origin － the ancient ceremony of Sacrificing to the Moon Goddess. 　　　　　 When that ceremony was later combined with the Legend 　　　　　 of Eating Mooncakes, Mid-Autumn Festival grew in the 　　　　　 popular consciousness to become the major occasion 　　　　　 that it is today.

Activities － Families will go together to scenic spots and parks 　　　　　　　 for moon appreciation parties. Recently, BBQ is 　　　　　　　 popular.

Special food － eating mooncakes and pomeloes.

The three legends － Chang-O Flees to the Moon, Wu Kang 　　　　　　　　　　　　 Chops Down the Cassia Tree, and the 　　　　　　　　　　　　 Jade Rabbit Grinds Medicine

Lunar New Year’s Eve in TaiwanOrigin: The most popular legend about the origin is “Guo Nian”, meaning keeping off the monster of Nian. ★Nian was afraid of three things: A. Red color. B. Bright flame. C. Loud noise. Activities: A.The people of an entire clan ( 家族 ) gathered together.. B.The family shared in a sumptuous ( 奢華的 ) meal—weilu ( 圍爐 ) (surrounding the stove). C.Family members hand out hong bao( 紅包 ) to elders and children. D.People also try to stay up all night ( 守歲 ) E.After midnight, some families hold a religious ceremony ( 祭祖 ) ----see photo---- in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

--- firecrackers ( 鞭炮 )

--- surrounding the stove–weilu( 圍爐 )

--- To keep ghosts and monsters away, prints of Door Gods are pasted in the front of doors. ( 門神 )

--- For children, the most exciting part of the holiday comes when they receive their hong bao ( 紅包 ), red envelopes full of cash.

New Year’s Eve in AmericaOrigin: Almost everyone makes an occasion of New Year’s Eve in

order to see the old year out and welcome the new one.

Activities: A. In New York, a favorite gathering place is New York City’sTimes

Square. Bells ring, whistles blow, people cheer with their happy

excitement.

B. Many churches hold “Watch Night” services on New Year’s Eve.

C. Some people go to churches can solemnly renew their

dedication to God for the coming year, they praying and blessing.

D. The New Year’s Eve party is in a luxurious hotel ballroom ( 舞廳 )

or in modest home.

E. At celebrations in restaurants, clubs and shipboard salons ( 船上 大廳 ), guests are given silly paper hats and noisemakers and as

the evening goes on no one remains a stranger.

New York City’s Times Square---Thousands if Americans and international tourists crowd this famous spot and crane their necks to watch for “Happy new Year” to flash across the electronically controlled sigh that moves around. When the moment arrives bedlam breaks forth. Bell ring, whistles blow, people cheer with their happy excitement.

Whether the New Year’s Eve party is in a luxurious hotel ballroom or in modest home, it will be gay, noisy and glittery, The music will be loud and carefree, and there will be bright colors, festive foods, and high good spirits to make this last night of the year one of fun and frivolity.

Date of Valentine’s Day

•Valentine’s Day in US：Feb 14th

• Chinese Valentine’s Day 七夕： The 7th Day of the 7th Month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar

Origins of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day in US ：

• From the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia

• From a priest named Valentine

Chinese Valentine’s Day ：

• From a legend that Niu-Lang牛郎 stole the clothing of Zhi-Nu織女(the 7th daughter of the Goddess of Heaven)

• From another version about two fairies named Niu-Lang牛郎 and Zhi-Nu織女

Who Celebrates the day

Valentine’s Day in US：

• Lovers• You and any people

you admire or respect

Chinese Valentine’s Day ：• Lovers• Girls or daughters (The d

ay also called The Begging Festival 乞巧節 or The Daughter’s Festival 少女節 )

Symbols of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day in US：

• Cupid

Chinese Valentine’s Day ：

• The Stars Vega and Aquila

• The Milky Way

THE END

THANK YOU

Origins of Valentine’s Day in US

girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew a slip. The girl whose name was chosen was to be his lover. Valentine’s Day probably derives its origin from the festival.

The 1st version ： In the early days of Rome, fierce wolves roamed everywhere. The Romans called upon their god, Lupercus, to keep the wolves away. A festival was held in honor of the god on Feb. 15th. The custom of the festival was name-drawing for the young people on the eve of the festival, Feb. 14th. The names of Roman

Origins of Valentine’s Day in US

want to stay at home rather than fight his wars. Valentine violated the law and secretly married the young couples. He was eventually arrested and put to death. Valentine’s Day is for honoring Valentine.

The 2nd version： Valentine was a priest in Rome. The Emperor at that time, Claudius, ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry. Claudius believed that married soldiers would

Origins of Chinese Valentine’s Day

So she ordered her daughter return to heaven and agreed Zhi-Nu to meet Niu-Lang only on the 7th night of the 7th moon mouth by crossing a bridge formed by magpies.

The 1st version ： Zhi-Nu, the 7th daughter of the Goddess of Heaven, caught the eye of a cowherd, Niu-Lang, during her visit to earth. One day, she and her 6 sisters were taking a bath in a river. Niu-Lang stole Zhi-Nu’s clothing. Since Niu-Lang had seen Zhi-Nu, naked, they had to marry each other. This made the Goddess very angry.

Origins of Chinese Valentine’s Day

The 2nd version ： Niu-Lang and Zhi-Nu were both fairies. They were head over heels in love and neglected their work. The Jade Emperor 玉皇大帝 was so angry with them that he separated them from each other by putting them at the opposites sides of the Milky Way. The couple could only meet once a year---on the 7th night of the 7th moon mouth.