The Taiwanese cultureThe Taiwanese culture

Chinese cultureChinese culture

If this is your first vIf this is your first visit to Taiwan, you will isit to Taiwan, you will most certainly be amazed most certainly be amazed at the diversity of thinat the diversity of things this island has to ofgs this island has to offer, as a rich historicafer, as a rich historical background has providel background has provided Taiwan with a multifacd Taiwan with a multifaceted culture. eted culture.

Chinese New YearChinese New YearChinese New Year is the most important Chinese New Year is the most important festival for Chinese.festival for Chinese.It means not only the end of the year but It means not only the end of the year but also a new beginning.also a new beginning.So Chinese people always sweep the whole So Chinese people always sweep the whole house before it.house before it.During this time, people who live away from During this time, people who live away from home return to be with relatives and home return to be with relatives and friends. On Chinese New Year's Eve, friends. On Chinese New Year's Eve, everybody sits around the table, eating a everybody sits around the table, eating a big feast and talking to each other. big feast and talking to each other. Certainly, it's a merry time for children. Certainly, it's a merry time for children. They can eat candy and cake and set off They can eat candy and cake and set off firecrackers. As red is a propitious color firecrackers. As red is a propitious color to the Chinese, parents put money in red to the Chinese, parents put money in red envelopes. They give a red envelope to all envelopes. They give a red envelope to all of their children and hope that everything of their children and hope that everything will be wonderful for them in the coming will be wonderful for them in the coming year.year.

Traditionally, Chinese New Year is a time for Traditionally, Chinese New Year is a time for families to reunite. Everyone visits relatives families to reunite. Everyone visits relatives and friends and exchanges best wishes with and friends and exchanges best wishes with them. them.

Married Women Visit their Natal Married Women Visit their Natal HomeHome

Long a custom of the New Long a custom of the New Year season, married women Year season, married women traditionally go home to visit traditionally go home to visit their parents on the second their parents on the second day on the first lunar month. day on the first lunar month.

Dragon Boat Festival Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month .lunar month .

Today is highlighted by the Today is highlighted by the dragon boat racesdragon boat races, in which , in which competing teams drive their boats forward rowing to the rhythm competing teams drive their boats forward rowing to the rhythm of pounding drums. This lively and colorful tradition has of pounding drums. This lively and colorful tradition has continued unbroken for centuries to the present day. continued unbroken for centuries to the present day.

Folk Art and Culture-Taiwanese Folk Art and Culture-Taiwanese operaopera

Taiwanese operaTaiwanese opera combines local opera and music into one perfo combines local opera and music into one performing art.rming art.

Folk Art and Culture-Folk Art and Culture-Glove PuppetryGlove Puppetry

Before the advent of television to Taiwan in the early 1960s, Before the advent of television to Taiwan in the early 1960s, glove puppet shows were one of the island's primary forms of glove puppet shows were one of the island's primary forms of

entertainment.entertainment.

The EndThe End