March/April 65
Queen Mother of the West's Birthday (Lunar) March. The day honours the highest-ranking female deity,
often portrayed as the Jade Emperor's wife. Main festivities take place in Hualien the centre of her cult in
Taiwan.
Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven's Birthday (Lunar), March. Pays respect to the controller of the
elements, particularly fire. Worshipped at some four hundred temples throughout Taiwan.
April
Tomb Sweeping Day (qîngmíng) April 5. Families visit cemeteries to clean relatives’ graves and pay
respects to their ancestors. In Taiwan, it's celebrated on the anniversary of Chiang Kai-shek's death.
"Grave cakes" are offered, and paper money is burnt.
Baosheng Dadi's Birthday Lunar March. Marks the birthday of Baosheng Dadi, the "Great Emperor who
Preserves Life". The biggest celebration is held in Xuejia, north of Tainan.
April/May
Bunun Ear-shooting Festival Most important celebration of the Bunun tribe, traditionally a test of archery
skills to mark the coming of age of the tribe's males.
Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage. This eight-day, seven-night pilgrimage comprises one of the world's biggest
religious festivals, with worshippers parading a caravan containing one of the island's most revered Mazu
deities around a circuit before returning it to its mother temple in Dajia. Always preceding Mazu's
birthday celebration, the pilgrimage is part of the month-long Dajia Mazu Culture Festival.
Mazu's Birthday Lunar March 23. One of Taiwan's most important folk festivals, celebrating the birthday
of Mazu, goddess of the sea, the island's most famous folk deity. Mazu deities are returned to their
"mother temples" on this day to be blessed and increase their spiritual powers. The liveliest celebrations
are held at Dajia's Zhenlan Temple, Beigang's Chaotian Temple and Lugang's Tianhou Temple.
May
Labour Day, May 1. Celebrates workers' rights and the eight-hour workday in line with international
convention.
May/June
Cleansing Buddha Festival (Lunar) April. Celebrates the birth of Buddha as per the Mahayana school.
Worshippers flock to Buddhist temples island-wide, with monasteries such as Chung Tai Chan,
Foguangshan and Dharma Drum hosting legions of devotees.
Tainan City God Birthday. Lunar April. Main festivities are held at the Tainan City God Temple.
Dragon Boat Festival (duânwŭ jié) (Lunar) May. One of the three major Chinese holidays, featuring
dragon boat races held in honour of the poet Qu Yuan who, according to legend, drowned himself in
protest after being slandered by envious officials on this date in 280 BC. Races are held in most major
cities with waterways – including international races in Taipei, Lugang and Keelung – but the most
distinctly Taiwanese are the aboriginal-style races held in Erlong, near the east coast hot-springs resort
of Jiaoxi.
June
Taipei City God Birthday Lunar May 13. Includes fireworks, elaborate dances by temple guardians and a
lavish parade in which the deity is carried around the streets surrounding Taipei's City God Temple.
July/August
Guan Di's Birthday Lunar June 24. Honours one of Taiwan's most admired deities, the red-faced patron of
chivalrous warriors, misleadingly known as the god of war. Ceremonies are held island-wide, but Taipei's
Xingtian Temple hosts the biggest.