New Year's Day First Day of the First Month of the year The Lantern Festival Yuanxiao Jie 元宵节 15-th Day of the First Month of the year Qingming - The Clear & Bright Festival 寒食、清明 description Dragon Boat Festival - Duanwu Jie 端午节 5-th Day of the 5-th Month of the year Sweet Dumpling Dragon Boat Races Festival of Qi Xi Jie 乞巧节 7th Day of the 7th Month of the year Sometimes called the 'Chinese Valentine's Day' Moon Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival 15-th Day of the 8-th Month of the year Double Nineth (Elder Day) 重阳节 9-th Day of the 9-th Month of the year Dong Zhi - Winter Solstice Festival 冬至 DEcember 21,2008 Explanation Ethnic Group Festivals 春节Chinese calendar Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries. It predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) in use at the present, which goes back only some 430 years. Basically, a calendar is a system we use to measures the passage of time, from short durations of minutes and hours, to intervals of time measured in days, months, years and centuries. These are fundamentally based on the astronomical observations of the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars. Days are measured by the duration of time of one self rotation of the earth. Months are measured by the duration of time of rotation of the moon around the earth. Years are measured by the duration of time it takes for the earth to rotate around the Sun. Lantern Festival Yuan Xiao Jie[Yuan Hsiao] [元宵节] Lantern Riddles Lanterns are everywhere. A most interesting tradition is the posting of riddles called 'Lantern Riddles.' Riddles are written on pieces of paper and posted on lanterns or wall. Any one solving the riddle is awarded a prize.