The enchanting island of Taiwan is a treasure trove of traditions and customs. In this place, the Festival of Taiwan and various other Taiwanese cultural events reflect the rich cultural tapestry of the nation. With absolute depth and diversity, the traditional festivals in Taiwan stand as one of the island's most appealing attractions, celebrated with sparkle and warmth. Rooted predominantly in Chinese heritage, these festivals range from indigenous national celebrations to astonishing local religious holidays. Taiwan's lively music and dance festivals form an unmissable part of this cultural blend, offering a window into the country's artistic soul.
If you're planning a visit to Taiwan, it's worthwhile to immerse yourself in these traditions, especially as a greater concentration of festivals takes place between January and March. The streets come alive with colourful parades, traditional music, and exquisite dance performances. Whether it's the energy and creativity displayed at the music and dance festivals Taiwan proudly hosts or the reflective religious observances, each event invites you to engage in the island's rich heritage. Traditional festivals in Taiwan await you with open arms, promising an experience filled with festivity, tradition, and unique cultural insights.
The Taiwan festivals listed below are some of the most famous celebrations. You must attend Taiwanese arts and crafts fairs if you visit Taiwan!
The Chinese New Year, celebrated as a key festival in Taiwan, symbolises the transition from the old to the new, reflecting a cultural embrace of renewal and optimism. Known also as the spring festival, it commences on the first day of the lunar calendar year. As part of the festivities, locals engage in spring cleaning to purge the bad and welcome positivity on the last day of the previous lunar year.
Thousands of sky lanterns are lit throughout Pingxi District during the Lantern Festival, celebrated around Taiwan. One of the important events in Yanshui District is the Wu Miao Temple's firecracker celebration. Initially, the Taipei Pingxi Sky Lanterns were lit to signal outsiders that the town was secure. These lanterns are embellished with messages and pictures that are personal to the owner.
This event, which honours the ancient poet, Qu Yuan, is observed by eating zongzi and participating in dragon boat races. The Dragon Boat Festival is a folk festival in Taiwan integrating the worship of gods and ancestors, praying for good fortune and warding off evil spirits, celebrating, entertainment and eating.
This festival, which honours passionate love, is the most important on the Taipei festival calendar and is regarded as the traditional Chinese version of Valentine's Day. The festival originates in Chinese mythology: people celebrate the romantic legend of Zhinü and Niulang, a weaver girl and a cowherd, respectively, who were two lovers. Since the Han Dynasty, the Qixi Festival has honoured the legend of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.
Different-sized and-shaped lanterns are carried and displayed; they serve as symbolic beacons that guide people toward prosperity and good fortune. On this occasion, it is standard to devour mooncakes, a tasty cake frequently filled with sweet bean, egg yolk, pork, or lotus seed paste. The history of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology, serves as the establishment for the Mid-Autumn Celebration.
This festival was initiated to promote the dying art of fire fishing and help boost the fishing trade. The festival organisers arrange a wide range of events. Still, the most popular of them is the opportunity for photographers to head out onto the water and capture the art of fire fishing in their film.