A Short Guide to Chinese Holidays and Celebrations

Lion dance at Yaowarat Road during the celebration of the Chinese New Year in Chinatown Bangkok Thailand

Chinese festivals are an integral part of the country’s culture. Read on to learn about three of the most significant ones: Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday celebrated in China. Public celebrations consist of major street festivals and fireworks marking the beginning of spring. It’s customary for family members to take time off from work and to travel far and wide to spend time with their loved ones. The dinner table is a centerpiece of the holiday, where friends and family gather together to celebrate the start of a new lunar year.

Many traditions are associated with Chinese New Year, including adornments of red clothing and gifts. In addition, many Chinese families will clean and rest during this holiday period. One of the most popular customs is to gift pocket-sized red envelopes filled with money to those around you. The gift of money is a symbol of prosperity and fortune and is the perfect representation of Chinese New Year, and its significance in Chinese culture.

A dragon boat (also dragonboat) is a human-powered boat (Paddled Water Craft) traditionally made of teak wood to various designs and sizes. dragon boats are generally rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails.

Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival is an essential and exciting holiday in Chinese culture. It occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar (early summertime) and is often referred to as the “Double Fifth Festival.” The festival is said to be celebrated in commemoration of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet and politician known for his patriotism. The story goes that after political misfortune, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, boats raced to his aid, but none were able to save him. Locals then dropped balls of sticky rice into the river hoping the fish would eat the rice cakes and leave his body unharmed.

Today, dragon boat races are held throughout the country, where competitive teams will row and paddle dragon-adorned boats in a friendly tournament for their city. Locals will also prepare sticky rice dumplings or “zongzi” in memory of Qu Yuan. The dumplings are made of gelatinous rice stuffed with savory or sweet fillings, then bound in bamboo leaves. For millennia, family and friends have gathered together to make sticky rice dumplings as a tribute to their heritage.

Mooncake traditional Chinese pastry served for Mid Autumn day festival with herbal tea and with various staffing. Tradition and holiday in China and parts of East Asia

Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a symbol of bountiful harvest and prosperity in Chinese culture. The origins of this beloved holiday trace back thousands of years to the Zhou Dynasty of 1050 B.C. At the time, ancient Chinese emperors worshipped the harvest moon in autumn in hopes of a good harvest season in the spring. Chinese culture continues to commemorate this tradition by gathering together for night festivals. These events include lighting lanterns, gazing at the moon, and eating specific Chinese dishes.

Chinese mooncakes, a dense Chinese pastry filled with lotus beans, sweet red bean paste, and jujube, are a must-have Chinese delicacy during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They’re elegantly designed, and often feature auspicious Chinese characters to commemorate this culturally significant holiday.

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3 Popular Chinese Street Foods Everyone Should Try

Chinese BBQ Skewers grilling over open flames

Indulging in Chinese street food is one of the best ways to get a taste of the country’s culinary scene. Here are three of the most popular dishes (order them today on Shef!):

Shao Kao (Chinese BBQ Skewers)

Chinese BBQ skewers — instantly recognizable by their scent of meat and smoky spices — can be found in just about every late-night street food market in China. It’s common to see locals strolling through the lively markets holding multiple Chinese BBQ skewers and an ice-cold drink to beat the hot Chinese summer nights.

To make them, fresh meat is skewered onto bamboo sticks and marinaded with a special blend of Chinese spices, then grilled over flames. Spice blends vary from vendor to vendor (in fact, the vendors have a friendly competition on who has the best one, with each secret recipe serving as a point of pride), but typically include Chinese five spice, cumin, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Authentic Chinese breakfast street food Jianbing crepe

Jian Bing (Chinese Crepes)

Jian Bing, a common Chinese breakfast food, consists of mung bean crepes filled with eggs and deep-fried wonton crackers. Hot off the griddle, the crepes are seasoned with savory hoisin and fresh herbs, then folded for easy eating during busy mornings. Vendors will start preparing these Chinese crepes as early as 5 a.m., carrying all of their supplies by bicycle or motorbike. Today, Jian Bing is served as a specialty in Chinese restaurants all over the world.

Hard Boiled Chinese Marbled or Tea Eggs

Marbled Chinese Tea Eggs

These elegantly marbled eggs are a popular Chinese side dish and street food. A symbol of fertility and wealth, they’re often eaten during Chinese New Year, but can be found year-round on streets all across China. Fresh eggs are hardboiled in a cauldron of simmering black tea and Chinese spices, then lightly cracked before returned to the soaking liquid. The flavored black tea slowly seeps into the shells, creating an elegant marbled pattern on each egg.

Each city in China has its own unique blend of tea leaves and mix of spices, as well as a preference for longer or shorter steeping periods. They’re a must-try when it comes to Chinese food and food culture.

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Loco Moco: What It Is and How to Make It

Homemade Hawaiian Loco Moco with Hamburger and Rice

Loco moco is an iconic Hawaiian comfort food that has been widely adopted all over the world. The simple yet satisfying dish consists of white rice topped with a sunny-side up egg, a hamburger patty, and gravy, and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A cultural mashup of Western and Asian cuisines, loco moco exemplifies Hawaii’s role as a melting pot of culture in the center of the Pacific Ocean.

While there are different varieties of loco moco, most will agree that it’s a drool-worthy, gluttonous Hawaiian treasure, ideal for a rainy or chilly day. Give it a try today!

The History of Loco Moco

Many people claim to have invented loco moco; however, it is generally acknowledged that it was created around 1949 at either Cafe 100 or the Lincoln Grill (both in Hilo, Hawaii, though Lincoln Grill is now closed). It’s often said that the dish was put together by Nancy Inouye (wife-owner of Lincoln Grill), who created it for customers wanting something other than standard American sandwiches for breakfast, less time-consuming than from-scratch Asian food, and cheap enough for young people to afford.

After adding it to the restaurant menu, Nancy approached her husband and the chef, asking them what it should be named. They agreed that since the kids were so nuts about it, they should call it “loco moco” (loco means “crazy” in Hawaiian pidgin). Another legend claims it was named after the first boy to eat it, whose nickname was Loco.

Whatever the origins of the dish, loco moco has come to represent Hawaiian plate lunch food, filling a surfer’s ravenous appetite while also healing the occasional hangover.

loco moco plate

The 4 Key Components of Loco Moco

While there’s not one exact recipe for loco moco, you really can’t mess it up. The ingredients are easy to find, which is likely why the dish is so popular all around the world. Once you understand the four major components, you’re well on your way to loco moco success:

Rice

Due to their higher starch content, short-grain sushi rice and medium-grain Calrose rice are the preferred varieties for loco moco.

Hamburger Patty

Onions, soy sauce, panko (Japanese bread crumbs), and an egg (for binding) are often used to make the hamburger patties. Alternatively, you can buy pre-made patties at the store, or substitute the patty with Portuguese sausage, Spam, or chicken katsu.

Gravy

Locally, loco moco is made with beef gravy made with onions and a dash of soy sauce. If you’re in a pinch, use a gravy packet, canned or jarred gravy, or even Zippy’s Chili.

Egg

There are varying opinions on how to cook the eggs, but it’s hard to beat sunny side up. After all, breaking the egg yolk and drizzling it over the rice distinguishes this meal and and adds a hearty richness. Each hamburger patty gets one egg.

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Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day

View of Vietnamese food for Tet holiday in spring, jam is traditional food and teapot set on lunar new year. Dried fruit and jam as tradition dessert - Mut Tet on wooden table. Selective focus.

Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day is one of the most celebrated national holidays in Vietnam. It takes place annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month, with the festivities beginning two days prior.

This holiday pays tribute to the dynastic Hung King family — a 5,000-year-old dynasty of emperors who shaped the country of Vietnam. The festival is celebrated at more than 1,400 Hung King temples across the nation. The festivities include elephant parades, incense lighting, communal meals, and flower processions. Many local communities flock to the provinces to catch a glimpse of the spectacle and offer their prayers for the Hung Kings’ contributions.

Vietnamese culture is deeply rooted in family ancestry and culinary traditions. Popular dishes eaten during Hùng Kings’ Commemoration include bánh chưng rice cakes and fresh fruits. As part of the holiday, food is an important symbol of worship and offerings to the Hung Kings.

Fun fact: The United Nations and UNESCO included Hung King’s Commemoration on their list of cultural heritage for humanity.

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