A friendly guide to the biggest, brightest, and most meaningful celebrations in Taiwan
Taiwan has festivals nearly every month — from ancient traditions to lively parades.
Many festivals are based on the lunar calendar, so dates shift slightly each year.
Experiencing a festival during your trip can offer a deeper connection to Taiwan’s culture, history, and community spirit.
📅 Major Festivals by Season
| Festival | Lunar Date (or Solar) | National Holiday | Main Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year (農曆新年) | 1st day of 1st lunar month Usually end of Jan. or early Feb. | ✅ | Family reunions, red envelopes, temple visits |
| Lantern Festival (元宵節) | 15th day of 1st lunar month Usually Feb. | ❌ | Sky lanterns, lantern displays, eating sweet rice balls |
| Tomb Sweeping Day (清明節) | April 4–6 (solar) | ✅ | Cleaning graves, ancestor worship |
| Dragon Boat Festival (端午節) | 5th day of 5th lunar month Usually end of May, early June | ✅ | Dragon boat races, eating rice dumplings |
| Ghost Festival (中元節) | 15th day of 7th lunar month Usually August | ❌ | Spirit offerings, traditional performances |
| Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節) | 15th day of 8th lunar month Usually end of Sep. or early Oct. | ✅ | Mooncakes, family barbecues, moon gazing |
| Double Ninth Festival (重陽節) | 9th day of 9th lunar month Late Oct. | ❌ | Honoring elders, hiking to high places |
🐉 1. Lunar New Year (農曆新年)
Lunar Date: 1st day of the 1st lunar month; Solar Date: Usually end of January or early February.
National Holiday: ✅
Background: Celebrated across the Chinese-speaking world, Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year. It’s rooted in legends like the beast “Nian” (年獸), who was scared away by red colors and firecrackers. It’s all about fresh starts, family reunions, and good fortune.
Typical Activities:
- Cleaning the house before the New Year (to sweep away bad luck)
- Having a New Year’s Eve dinner (圍爐 wéi lú)
- Giving/receiving red envelopes (紅包 hóng bāo)
- Visiting temples to pray for blessings
🏮 2. Lantern Festival (元宵節)
Lunar Date: 15th day of the 1st lunar month; Solar Date: Usually in February.
Background:
Traditionally marks the final day of Lunar New Year celebrations. Ancient traditions involved lighting lanterns to guide lost spirits, now evolved into colorful lantern displays and sky lantern releases.
Typical Activities:
- Releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi (平溪)
- Visiting huge lantern exhibitions across cities
- Eating sweet rice balls (元宵 yuán xiao), symbolizing family unity
🌸 3. Tomb Sweeping Day (清明節)
Solar Date: Around April 4–6 (not lunar)
National Holiday: ✅
Background: A day to honor ancestors by cleaning their graves and making offerings. It’s rooted in Confucian respect for family and traditional Chinese beliefs about honoring the dead.
Typical Activities:
- Cleaning graves and offering food, incense, and paper money
- Family picnics or outings after rituals
- Some families will arrange to clean graves earlier to avoid crowds.
🚣 4. Dragon Boat Festival (端午節)
Lunar Date: 5th day of the 5th lunar month; Solar Date: Usually end of May or early June.
National Holiday: ✅
Background: Commemorates the poet and statesman Qu Yuan, who drowned himself to protest corruption. Villagers raced boats to save him and threw rice dumplings into the river to keep fish from eating his body.
Typical Activities:
- Dragon boat races across rivers and harbors
- Eating sticky rice dumplings (粽子 zòng zi) wrapped in bamboo leaves
- Hanging mugwort and calamus to ward off evil spirits
👻 5. Ghost Festival (中元節)
Lunar Date: 15th day of the 7th lunar month
Background: In Taiwanese beliefs, the gates of the underworld open during the 7th lunar month, letting spirits roam the earth. The festival appeases wandering ghosts to avoid misfortune.
Typical Activities:
- Making food and incense offerings on the street and at temples
- Watching traditional operas or puppet shows dedicated to spirits
- Avoiding swimming, weddings, and big life changes during this month
🌕 6. Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節)
Lunar Date: 15th day of the 8th lunar month; Solar Date: Usually end of September or early October
National Holiday: ✅
Background: Celebrates the harvest and the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess. A time for reunion and moon appreciation.
Typical Activities:
- Eating mooncakes (月餅 yuè bǐng) and sharing them with family and friends
- Nighttime barbecues (especially popular in Taiwan!). It’s the getting FAT season.
- Gazing at the full moon and playing with lanterns
🧓 7. Double Ninth Festival (重陽節)
Lunar Date: 9th day of the 9th lunar month
Background: Traditionally a day to climb to high places, drink chrysanthemum wine, and show respect to elders. It’s associated with longevity and health.
Typical Activities:
- Hiking or visiting mountains
- Respecting and celebrating older family members
- Senior citizens might get government compensation.
- Young people usually don’t care, because there is no holiday.
🎁 About Gift-Giving During Festivals
In Taiwan, the “Three Major Festivals” (三節) — Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival — are not only important family celebrations but also key moments for business etiquette.
It’s customary for companies to give gifts to employees, clients, and partners. Common gifts include boxes of specialty foods (like mooncakes or rice dumplings), fruit baskets, or festive gift sets.
🎉 Other Unique and Colorful Celebrations
Taiwan’s calendar is packed not just with traditional festivals but also lively modern celebrations and cultural events. Some are based on religion, while others are imported or adapted into local life — but all add extra sparkle to your travels.
🙏 Mazu Pilgrimage (媽祖遶境)
When: Around March–April (based on Mazu’s birthday, 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month)
Background: The sea goddess Mazu is one of Taiwan’s most important deities. The annual Mazu Pilgrimage is a huge religious event, with devotees following Mazu’s statues for hundreds of kilometers on foot across central Taiwan.
Typical Activities:
- Multi-day pilgrimage with drums, firecrackers, and traditional costumes
- Temple ceremonies, street banquets, and lively local festivities
- Believers “crawl under” the palanquin for blessings
👷 Labor Day (勞動節)
When: May 1
Background: Labor Day is a national holiday in Taiwan, mainly to celebrate the contributions of workers. Most private sector employees get a day off.
Typical Activities:
- One-day public holiday (offices and factories closed)
- Labor unions may organize marches or events
👩👦 Mother’s Day (母親節)
When: Second Sunday of May
Background: Celebrated just like in many countries around the world. Taiwanese families often treat mothers to a meal or gift.
Typical Activities:
- Family gatherings
- Flowers, cakes, and small gifts for mothers
- Special promotions in restaurants and shops
👨👧 Father’s Day (父親節)
When: August 8 (“八八” sounds like “爸爸” = dad in Mandarin)
Background: Unique to Taiwan, Father’s Day is celebrated on 8/8 for the homophonic connection to “dad.”
Typical Activities:
- Family meals (Not really, people care about mom more than dad)
- Giving cards, gifts, or small celebrations at home
- Promotions and discounts at restaurants and shops
🌾 Indigenous Harvest Festivals (原住民族豐年祭)
When: Summer to early fall (July–September, varies by tribe)
Background: Taiwan’s indigenous peoples celebrate the harvest with ceremonies, singing, dancing, and traditional rituals that honor nature and ancestors.
Typical Activities:
- Vibrant group dances and traditional music performances
- Sharing millet wine and indigenous cuisine
- Community feasts and sports competitions
🛒 Double 11 – Singles’ Day Sales (雙11購物節)
When: November 11
Background: Imported from China, 11/11 has become Taiwan’s biggest online shopping event of the year, similar to Black Friday.
Typical Activities:
- Huge online sales on platforms like Shopee, Momo, PChome
- Flash deals, discounts, shopping carnivals
- Great timing for travelers looking to buy gifts!
✨ Tips for Festival Travelers
- Check the festival calendar early: Lunar calendar events move every year!
- Book accommodations in advance: Hotels fill up fast around major holidays like Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.
- Be mindful of crowds and closures: Some places might be very crowded (or closed) during public holidays.
- Participate respectfully: When visiting temples, wear modest clothing and observe local customs.
- Pack for fireworks and noise: Especially during New Year and Ghost Festival, earplugs can be helpful.
Taiwan’s festivals are more than just events — they’re a window into its heart and history.
Whether you’re savoring sticky rice dumplings by the riverside, watching glowing lanterns rise into the sky, or joining a community feast in a small town, every celebration offers a deeper connection to Taiwan’s people, traditions, and spirit.
No matter what season you visit, chances are there’s a festival waiting to welcome you. 🎉