Culture Yard’s Post

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar.[1] On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn.[2] The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the festival dates back over 3,000 years.[3][4] Similar festivals are celebrated by other cultures in East and Southeast Asia. During the festival, lanterns of all size and shapes – which symbolize beacons that light people's path to prosperity and good fortune – are carried and displayed. Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during this festival.[5][6][7] The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology.

The Lantern Festival  (traditional Chinese: 元宵節;  simplified Chinese: 元宵节; pinyin: Yuánxiāo jié),  also called Shangyuan Festival (traditional Chinese: 上元節;  simplified Chinese: 上元节; pinyin: Shàngyuán jié),  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. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns  (traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎;  simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜; pinyin: cāidēngmí).  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 lanterns can symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones, which they will let go of the next year. The lanterns are almost always red to symbolize good fortune. The festival acts as an Uposatha day on the Chinese calendar.  It should not be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival;  which is sometimes also known as the "Lantern Festival" in locations  such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Lantern Festivals have also become popular in Western countries, such as the Water Lantern  Festival held in multiple locations in the United States.

Did You Know....Today is Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival (traditional Chinese: 元宵節; simplified Chinese: 元宵节; pinyin: Yuánxiāo jié), also called Shangyuan Festival (traditional Chinese: 上元節; simplified Chinese: 上元节; pinyin: Shàngyuán jié), 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. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns (traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎; simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜; pinyin: cāidēngmí). 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 lanterns can symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones, which they will let go of the next year. The lanterns are almost always red to symbolize good fortune. The festival acts as an Uposatha day on the Chinese calendar. It should not be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival; which is sometimes also known as the "Lantern Festival" in locations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Lantern Festivals have also become popular in Western countries, such as the Water Lantern Festival held in multiple locations in the United States. #LanternFestival #culture #dei #DEIU #PartnersPersonnelInAction #ifn #partnerspersonnel #knowledge

The forecast for cherry blossoms in #Tokyo predicts that they will begin to bloom on March 24 and reach their peak on March 31. In this article, we will introduce the etiquette of Hanami (Cherry blossom parties) in #Japan, Cherry blossoms viewing locations and festivals in Tokyo. https://rebrand.ly/ui08ed6 #cherryblossom #cherryblossomviewing #hanami #tokyocherryblossom #tokyohanami

Switzerland's Sechseläuten Festival commemorates a historical dispute with a lighthearted twist: the iconic Swiss Grape Fight. This playful battle between guilds is a reminder that sometimes a well-aimed grape is the best weapon. Learn more about this fascinating tradition in the latest "U-Can Grow Your Brain" blog post!

Read an interesting article about some of the harvest festivals in our country that are just around the corner. We weave a rich cultural fabric with these festivals, and interestingly, they also have a connection to specific sectors. This connection with each festival contributes to a unique impact. Below, we take a closer look at the potential impact of specific sectors. Let’s dive in!

Today, it is the annual Double Ninth Festival. Every year, the Chinese celebrate the ancient Double Ninth Festival, sometimes called the Double Ninth Festival or the Old Man's Day. The Double Ninth Festival reflects many of the values and beliefs that the Chinese cherish most, such as respect for ancestors and the elderly. The traditional customs of the Double Ninth Festival include climbing, admiring chrysanthemums, and drinking. "Climbing" is an elegant name for mountaineering. Autumn is the best season for outdoor activities. The sky is clear and the air is fresh. Many people choose to go out, climb mountains, and enjoy the scenery. The Double Ninth Festival has a custom of admiring chrysanthemums since ancient times, so the Double Ninth Festival is also called the Chrysanthemum Festival, and chrysanthemums symbolize longevity, which is very consistent with the blessing of the elderly. In short, in China, the Double Ninth Festival is a very important festival in the family. Young people usually accompany the elderly in their families to spend this important festival, and even go out to play with the elderly. As a supplier, how do we maintain the relationship with our customers? 1. Personalized greetings and gifts Customized messages Symbolic gifts 2. Limited-time offers and promotions Festival-themed discounts Gift packages 3. Cultural experiences and events Cultural experiences: Provide customers with opportunities to experience traditional Chinese customs and traditions associated with the festival. 4. Social media engagement Customer engagement: Encourage customers to share their own Double Ninth Festival experiences and photos on your social media platforms. 5. Joint participation in activities Give back to customers and invite them to participate together By adopting these, suppliers can build stronger relationships with customers, cultivate loyalty and enhance brand reputation. #SupplyChain #Relation

The Lantern Festival (元宵节) is the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration. This day is for the last moment for setting off fireworks, the last excuse for eating a big feast and the last chance for family getting together before the “年” celebrations are over. (Latern Festival is also a traditional time of celebration for foreigners who live in China). The Lantern Festival, the 15th of the first month of the lunar calendar, is the first full moon of the year. Celebrations and traditions on this day date back to the Western Han Dynasty. Traditions for this festival: as the name indicates, hanging and looking at lanterns is the main tradition. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are displayed on trees, or along river banks. Parents often take their children to Lantern Fairs and sometimes lucky kids even get a mini toy lantern. Another tradition is guessing lantern riddles. These are riddles that are hung on lanterns for people to shoot down and solve. The riddles are usually short, wise, and sometimes humorous. The answer to a riddle can be a Chinese character, a famous person's name, a place name or a proverb. This tradition has become a popular game with serious staying power even as social development changes other traditions. Other than that, the most important thing to do today is to eat sweet dumplings. In northern China, sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour are called “元宵” while in southern part they are called “汤圆”. Typical sweet dumplings are filled with black sesame sauce, sweetened bean paste, or hawthorn. 

Why should you travel to Hong Kong for the Lunar New Year? One of the major festivals in Hong Kong is coming to an end. Lunar New Year is a time of vibrant celebrations, family gatherings, and cultural traditions. Several amazing activities that you can witness during the festival in HK: 🎆Vibrant Festivities: the city comes alive with magnificent decorations, dragon parades, and fireworks. 🐲Lion and Dragon Dances: to bring good fortune and scare away evil spirits, lion and dragon costumes are paraded around the streets, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums and cymbals. 🌷Flower Markets: the streets are filled with beautiful blooms, such as peach blossoms, orchids, and chrysanthemums, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. 🏮Lantern Festival: the 15th day marks the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated with lantern displays across the city. 🎏Temples: the most popular temple in HK during this time is Wong Tai Sin Temple, where worshippers seek divine guidance and make offerings. Which Chinese traditions captivate your interest the most?