Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure [Ilha Formosa's Special Days]

• 開國紀念日 Founding Day of the ROC
• 雙十國慶日 - Double Tenth National Day
• 二二八和平紀念日 - 228 Memorial Day
• 軍 節 - Armed Forces Day
• 教師節 - Teacher's Day
• 勞動節 - Labor Day
• 民族掃墓節 - Tomb Sweeping Day
• 臺灣光復節 - Taiwan's Retrocession Day
• 婦女節 - Women's Day
• 青年節 - Youth Day
• 行憲紀念日 - Constitution Day
• 兒童節 - Children's Day
• 春節 - Chinese New Year
• 元宵節 - Lantern Festival
• 中元節 - Ghost Festival
• 農民節 - Farmer's Day
• 中秋節 - Mid-Autumn Festival
• 端午節 - Dragon Boat Festival
• 重陽節 - Double Ninth Day
• 平溪放天燈 - Pinghsi Sky Lantern Festival
• 頭城搶孤 - Toucheng Chiang Ku Festival
• 基隆中元祭- Keelung Chung Yuan Festival
• 祭孔大典 - Confucius Ceremony
• 台北市年貨大街 - Taipei City New Year's Goods Market
• 西港燒王船 - Sikang's Burning King Boat Ceremony
• 艋舺青山王祭 - Ching Shan Wang Ritual at Meng Chia
• 大甲媽祖進香 - Tachia Matsu Pilgrimage Procession
• 北港媽祖繞境 - Beigang Matsu Touring Procession
• 內門迎觀音 - Welcome Kuan Yin Ritual at Neimen
• 鹽水蜂炮 - Yenshui Fireworks Festival
• 淡水迎祖師爺 - Welcoming the Patriarch at Danshui
• 新埔義民節 - Yimin Festival at Hsin Pu
• 東港王船祭 - Donggang King Boat Ceremony
• 三峽清水祖師祭 - Zushi Ritual at Chingshui, Sansia
• 北門三寮灣王船祭 - Wangchuan Ritual at Sanliao Bay, Peimen
• 土城聖母廟刈香 - Yi Hsiang of Tucheng Sheng Mu Temple
• 大龍峒保生大帝祭 - Bao Sheng Cultural Festival in Dalongdong
• 大溪關老爺祭 - The ritual of Emperor Kuan Kung at Dasi
• 台東炸寒單爺 - Taitung's Bombarding Master Handan Festival
• 九份大拜拜 - Great Offering at Jiufen
• 三重神農大帝祭 - Ritual of Emperor Shen Nung at Sanchung
• 小琉球王船祭 - Wang chuan Ritual at Hsiao Liuchiu
• 內湖夜弄土地公 - Neihu Night Procession of the Earth God
• 台北龍山寺浴佛節 - Buddha Bathing Festival of Taipei Lungshan Temple
• 五結利澤簡走尪 - Tsouwang at Lichechien, Wuchie
• 大稻埕霞海城隍祭 - Cheng Huang Ritual at Hsia Hai, Tataocheng
• 口湖牽水車藏 - Pulling Water Zhuang at Kauhu
• 大溪祭陳聖王 - Chen Sheng Wang in Dasi Ritual
• 台南開隆宮七娘媽生 - The Ceremony of Chiniangma's Birthday of Tainan Kailung Temple
• 南鯤鯓王爺祭 - Nan Kuan-shen Wang-yeh Ritual
• 客家桐花季 -Hakka Tung Bloosom Festival

Pingxi- Flying Lantern

2009 Taipei Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, also known as "Yuan Xiao Festival" or "Shang Yuan Festival", is a long-standing traditional festival originating in ancient times. From its earliest conception, the Lantern Festival has meant a time for families to gather and invoke the blessings of the Gods for peace and harmony in the coming year. Falling on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival is the climactic conclusion to the Lunar New Year period. Due to the widespread popularity of this festival, it is sometimes dubbed the mini-New Year celebration. In order to meet the public’s high expectations of the Lantern Festival, Taipei City Government meticulously plans and executes uniquely themed festivities every spring, which not only offer a chance to celebrate this occasion, but also to uphold the long-standing tradition of Chinese culture, while simultaneously promoting Chinese folk festivals on the international stage. The Taipei Lantern Festival, which has been held annually since 1997, has won acclaim both domestically and internationally. The city's residents, young and old, have been very impressed by the gorgeous fireworks and wondrous lantern installations. Both local and international visitors will not want to miss the annual Lantern Festival. The 2009 Taipei Lantern Festival will combine the theme of this year’s zodiac animal, the Ox, with the 2009 Deaflympic Games in Taipei. Viewers will be treated to a feast of creative visual arts utilizing lights and sounds. The modern technological design and innovation will be integrated into the traditional Chinese festivities. "Lantern holding, drama appreciation, festival celebration" — in the 2009 Taipei Lantern Festival, all the exhibits and performances are delicately linked together. Drawing upon the four main forms of artistic expression (song, dance, music and drama), this year’s festival promises a revival of ancient traditions.

Source : Taipei City Gov.