GROUP 1 “KHROMA”

Loyola Mark Allan P.

Catanyag Joane Rachel
Rodriguez Angel
Din Mariel
Andra Alexandra Nicole
Balbin Juliana Mae
Tagulao Florence
Balboa Jayzel
Padiernos John Lloyd
Introduction:

A festival is an occasion on which people come together to celebrate. It can also refer to
a day or several that a nation observes as a holiday in order to honor a particular
occasion. Holidays can be national or religious in nature. These are unique days to
rejoice in happiness, harmony, and peace while honoring customs, cultures, and
traditions. Living the festive times to the utmost is highly advised because they are
important for our social lives.

Spring Festival (traditional Chinese: 春節; simplified Chinese: 春节; pinyin:

Chūnjié)

HISTORY

The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend believes that
many years ago or thousands of years ago a monster named NIAN or (YEAR in
English) would attack villager's at the beginning of each new year. Nian had long horns
and was extremely fierce. It lived deep in the sea all year round. On the evening of the
last day of the 12th lunar month, it would swim to the shore, devour livestock, and even
hurt people. They believed that this monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights and
the colour red, so those things were used to chase the beast away that's why Chinese
new year began.

IMPORTANCE

Far and away the most important holiday in China is Spring Festival, also known as the
Chinese New Year. To the Chinese people it is as important as Christmas to people in
the West and should always be spent with family. It is a time for people to look back
over their work in the previous year and to look forward with hope and anticipation that
the New Year will be happy, auspicious, prosperous and peaceful. Chinese people
always celebrate the Chinese New Year no matter where they are.
Additionally, spring festival is one of the most important festival in China since for
Chinese people it represents their desire for a new life. It's also called Spring Festival
because it marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter. Chinese people also
believed that that this Chinese new year celebration helps to remove the bad and the
old and welcomes the new and the good. It's their time to worship their ancestor,
exorcise evil spirits and pray for good harvest. And this spring festival are not only
celebrated in China but also in different country that have Chinese communities.
DATE

The traditional Chinese Lunar Calendar originated about 4,000 years ago and was
created to divide the year into seasons for agriculture. And this year the Chinese new
year falls on February 10 2024 ( in Asia ). Since it coincides with the date of new moon
and signals the start of the year of the dragon.The first day of Chinese New Year begins
on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February.

CLOTHES

People frequently dress in colorful, traditional attire for Chinese New Year, since red is
associated with luck and prosperity in Chinese culture. In addition, jewelry made of jade
is a popular accessory to wear at this joyous occasion.
Wearing red is one common fashion behavior that is still, to a considerable part,
observed today. As we are all already well aware, red is the most fortunate hue in
Chinese culture, signifying both power and prosperity.

One of the oldest traditions in the Chinese Spring Festival celebrations is acquiring new
clothes for the new year. This is symbolically in line with many other aspects of the
festival, which emphasize the idea of change, new beginnings, and getting rid of the old.
Removing the evil spirits and forgetting about the misfortunes and be ready for
goodluck.

Wives or mothers used to typically take care of this, knitting or sowing new garments for
the family in time for the Chinese New Year.
Even though older family members may still perform this today, buying new garments is
frequently used in place of the tradition.

Here are some traditional clothes

•Tang Suit
A Tang suit (唐装 / táng zhuāng) used to refer to dress from the Tang dynasty. But the
“new” Tang suit is a jacket that combines the Man riding jacket (Qing dynasty) and the
Western suit.
•Qipao
The qipao (旗袍 / qí páo) entered mainstream Chinese culture during the Qing dynasty.
But the modern styles we know today are very different from how it was originally. It
began as a conservative dress with straight and loose cuts. Intricate designs were
embroidered into the fabric. Through colonization, the qipao became westernized.
MUSIC

Chinese New Year is a time for families to gather, and it's often accompanied by vocal
and instrumental Chinese New Year music, especially many special songs to welcome
the new year's arrival and start of a new season. In Lunar New Year parades, musical
instruments such as drums, gongs and cymbals are played loudly to keep the “bad luck”
monster away. One Chinese traditional instrument used during those celebrations is the
bo lang gu. The music includes special upbeat and happy songs like ''Gongxi, Gongxi,''
or ''Greetings Greetings,'' and ''Gongxi Ni Facai,'' or ''Wishing You Prosperity.

PLACE

Greater China (which includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.)
Along with the Han Chinese in and outside Greater China, as many as 29 of the 55
ethnic minority groups in China also celebrate Chinese New Year. Korea, Vietnam,
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines celebrate it as an official festival.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

On New Year's Eve, loud firecrackers would be fired off at midnight to welcome in the
new year. During the first few days after New Year's Day, friends would go to each
other's houses to wish each other luck and give each other seasonal greetings, which
involve making a bow with their hands folded in front .
Lion dances, dragon dances, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends
and relatives, giving red envelopes, decorating with chunlian couplets.
LANTERN FESTIVAL- The official name of the Lantern Festival is the
Shangyuan Festival or “Yuan Xiao” which means the “prime night festival”. The Chinese
Lantern Festival (or Shangyuan Festival) celebrates the first full moon of the lunar
calendar. It’s celebrated across China and around the world.

HISTORY

There are several beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. However, its roots
trace back more than 2,000 years and is popularly linked to the reign of Emperor Wen
of the Han dynasty. Emperor Ming, an advocate of Buddhism, noticed Buddhist monks
would light lanterns in temples on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. As a result,
he ordered all households, temples and the imperial palace to light lanterns on that
evening. From there it developed into a folk custom. Another likely origin is the
celebration of “the declining darkness of winter” and community’s ability to “move about
at night with human-made light,” namely, lanterns. During the Han dynasty, the festival
was connected to Ti Yin, the deity of the North Star.

DATE

Lantern festival is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the
first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, during the full moon. Usually falling in
February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the
traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. As early as the Western Han dynasty (206
BC–AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance.

PLACE

The Chinese Lantern Festival is widely celebrated throughout China and other regions
with significant Chinese communities. Notable places include Beijing, Shanghai, and
Hong Kong, where vibrant lantern displays, cultural performances, and traditional
activities mark the festivities.

WHAT THEY DO IN THE LATERN FESTIVAL?

During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve
riddles on the lanterns. In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, and only the
emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones. In modern times, lanterns have been
embellished with many complex designs. For example, lanterns are now often made in
the shape of animals. The festival is peppered with colorful red lanterns meant to bring
good fortune. Various Chinese customs, such as lantern riddles from the Song Dynasty,
add to the festival’s charm. Attendees continue their celebrations by eating sticky rice
and performing Lion and Dragon dances.

WHAT THEY USUALLY MADE?

Lanterns have been used as part of Lunar New Year celebrations for thousands of
years. Traditionally, lanterns were made from paper, silk, or animal hide wrapped
around a wood or bamboo base. They were illuminated by candles or sometimes by the
light of fireflies

SYMBOLIZES

The lanterns can symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new
ones, which they will let go of the next year.On this day, people light lanterns to
symbolize driving out darkness and bringing hope to the coming year. The lanterns
symbolize driving out darkness and bringing hope to a new year. It’s said that the
tradition gained popularity during China’s Han Dynasty some 2,000 years ago. The
lanterns are almost always red to symbolize good fortune. In addition, Red lanterns
represent wealth and prosperity; yellow lanterns represent good luck; white lanterns
represent grief and mourning; green lanterns represent health.
Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 - Duanwu Jie in Mandarin)
Duan means 'start' while wu means 'noon' or 'the fifth solar month'. Hence, Duan Wu Jie
means 'the beginning of the mid-summer festival'.

HISTORY

Dragon Boat Festival is one of the top traditional Chinese festivals. This festival falls
every fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Which is in late May or June on the Gregorian
calendar. It is celebrated in remembrance of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet and
statesman for his patriotism who drowned himself in Miluo River on the fifth day of the
fifth lunar month (June 27, 278 BC) in protest of his beloved homeland's fall. Eventually,
he became a national hero. But, it's earliest origin was known to ancients as 'month of
poison'. The reason is during summer people would easily get ill and epidemic spread.
Therefore, it was originally regarded as a traditional and medical and health festival.

CHINESE PEOPLE COMMONLY DO DURING THE FESTIVAL

Eating zongzi (sticky rice dumpling) the reason is that a lump of rice will be thrown into
the river to stop fish from eating Qu Yuan's body. Attending dragon boat races to seek
the body of Qu Yuan and also a way to worship the Dragon God or Water God. Hanging
Chinese mugwort and calamus since they believe that those leaves will bring good luck
to their family. Drinking realgar wine because people believed that it was an antidote for
all poisons, effective for killing insects, and driving away evil spirits. And lastly, Wearing
perfume pouches for children to protect them from evil.

CLOTHES

In formal celebration of the festival they usually wear a formal attire includes traditional
hanfu and garments of ethnic minorities. But in moderm celebration, they usually
wearing sports attire because of their main activity called Dragon Boat race.

PLACES

The Great Places to Catch Dragon Boat Festival are:

1. Xixi Wetland, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
2. Qingshui River, Guizhou
3. Miluo River, Yueyang, Hunan
4. Li River, Guanxi
IMPORTANCE

Aside for the significance of commemorance of Qu Yuan, When it comes to destination

marketing and promotion, the utilization of cultural events is only becoming more
popular as places look to expand their offerings. An instance of a cultural event of this
type is the Dragon Boat Festival, which has evolved from a customary Taoist festival
held in Chinese fishing villages, surrounded by ritual and social identity, to an
international racing sensation held every year in a number of large cities and locales.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The most well-liked event at the Dragon Boat Festival is dragon boat racing. It has
developed beyond its historical foundations to become one of the most exhilarating and
inclusive water sports available in China today. The International Dragon Boat
Federation (IDBF), the sport's international regulatory organization, is currently in
charge of organizing international dragon boat racing. There's even a chance that
dragon boat racing will soon be an official Olympic sport.

The dragon boat is a classic teak wood boat that comes from southern China. It has a
styled dragon tail at the back, a mythological dragon head up front, and elaborate
dragon scales down the sides. The boat's length can vary from about 8 to more than 18
meters, and its breadth and internal depth can also change based on its intended use.
Qīngmíng Festival
(Pinyin): Qīngmíng jié 清明節
(Literal meaning): Pure Brightness Festival

INTRODUCTION

Qingming Festival, which also known as "The Tomb-Sweeping Day", is one of the most
famous traditional Chinese festival acknowledged for its special background that plays a
significant role in Chinese culture. The festival is particularly celebrated to honor and
pay respects towards their certain beloved ancestors. It's a cultural practice blending
remembrance of the departed with celebrating the arrival of spring for it can be
observed around April 4th to April 6th. With that being said, Chinese people usually
takes this opportunity to spend more time outdoors along with their families due to
favorable weather.

ORIGIN

It began around 2,500 years ago during Spring and Autumn period. The festival's
association with tomb-sweeping comes from the ancient belief that spirits of ancestors
would wander during this time. To appease them, people would tidy up graves, burn
incense, and make offerings. Over time, Qingming Festival evolved into a broader
celebration of nature, outdoor activities, and paying respects to both ancestors and the
environment. Today, it typically falls on April 4th or 5th in the Gregorian calendar.

WHAT THEY DO

In the course of celebrating this festival, families shows reverence by visiting their
ancestor's grave, clean their tombstones, make offerings such as food, and various
symbolic item for their departed loved ones. This also opens the opportunity for a family
to strengthen emotional and spiritual bond through spending time, sharing memories,
reflecting on heritage, and things alike as a traditional rituals.

COSTUME

There is no specific costume to wear during Qīngmíng festival as it is not one of your
typical festival that is full of entertainment. Instead, when visiting their ancestral
tombstone, families dress-up in either formal attire or traditional clothing during
ceremonies as a sign of respect. The festival emphasizes modesty rather than bright
and vivid colors to celebrate the festival.

PLACE

Since this is a Chinese tradition, there is no specific place in China that particularly
celebrates the Qīngmíng festival but the whole country participates. So if you're
planning Tmto witness the Qingming Festival, you can plan your visit to China or areas
with a significant Chinese population during this time. Keep in mind that the festival
involves various customs, including tomb-sweeping and outdoor activities, so you can
experience the cultural traditions associated with this event.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Although it may sound similar to Halloween, Qīngmíng festival is conducted in a

different approach. Halloween which came from Celtic Traditions, it is widely celebrated
in Western countries with Western culture that is associated with how Halloween is
commemorated. Halloween bears a playful spooky theme that explains the costumes,
activities such as trick-or-treating, that symbolizes the boundary between life and death.
On the other hand, Qīngmíng festival is a tradition that primarily focuses on paying
respect towards their ancestors by paying tribute and remembering.
Zhong Yuan Jie (中元节), also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival,
traditionally falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

HISTORY

There are different story's about the Hungry ghost but one story says that man
instructed his wife to give the monk some food. After the man left his house his wife was
overcome with greed. She took it upon herself to teach the monk a lesson, so she
locked the monk in an empty room all day with no food. She was reborn as a hungry
ghost for innumerable lifetimes. On the other hand According to the Taoist Tradition its
believed that hungry ghost is those people whose deaths have been violent or unhappy.
Both Buddhism and Taoism share the idea that hungry ghost can emerge from neglect
or desertion of ancestors. That's why for Buddhist the hungry ghost figures are depicted
with scrawny little necks and huge bellies riddled with powerful desires they can never
satisfy.

DATE

The 15th day of the seventh lunar month in China marks Zhongyuan Festival, also
known as Hungry Ghost Festival. According to ancient legend, on this day, the gates of
hell swing wide open, granting passage to ghosts and spirits to traverse the human
realm and partake in offerings

PLACE

The hungry ghost festival is not only celebrated in China but also in different country's
like Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hongkong. The Chinese communities in these
three regions observe the festival throughout the seventh lunar month with rituals of
prayers and offerings.

IMPORTANCE

This festival was originally from the story of Mu Lian, commemorates his filial piety
towards his mother. The legend is also believed to be the origin of the Chinese custom
of making offerings and praying for one's ancestors during this annual festival. It's also
important because it is a celebration to honour ancestors and relatives that are dead.

COSTUME

There are no specific costume in Hungry ghost festival however they said that during
this day don't wear too much red or black as a reason that for them these two colours
are believed to attract ghosts. Therefore, wearing them during the Hungry Ghost
Festival is an open invitation for them to follow you home! On the bright side, this is a
great excuse to go shopping and add some extra colour to your wardrobe.

MUSIC

during the hungry ghost festival outdoor performances are held on makeshift stages to
entertain both ghosts and humans, with the front row seats left empty for the spirits.
Chinese opera or wayang, which used to be a common sight in the past, has over time
been gradually replaced by modern Chinese song performances called getai, which
means “song stage” in Chinese

WHAT DO THEY DO?

Throughout the seventh lunar month, many Chinese observe the festival by making
offerings of food, joss sticks, candles, paper money and other paper effigies such as
houses, cars and clothes to the dead.Traditionally during this month, Taoist priests
would perform rites and make food offerings, while devotees would visit temples to
repent their sins, as well as pray for happiness and avoidance of disasters.