The Chinese & American Friendship Association of Maine

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Celebrations and Events!

Chinese culture is rich with celebrations. China’s major traditional festivals include Chinese New Year, which culminates with the Lantern Festival, the Qingming (Pure Brightness) Festival in April for sweeping ancestors’ graves, the summer Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival, and the Double Ninth Festival.

Many ethnic minorities have also maintained their own unique festivals, including the Water Sprinkling Festival of the Dai people which expresses their New Year best wishes to each other, the Nadam Fair of the Mongolian people, the Torch Festival of the Yi people, the Danu (Never Forget the Past) Festival of the Yao people, the Third Month Fair of the Bai people, the Antiphonal Singing Day of the Zhuang people, the Tibetan New Year and Onghor (Expecting a Good Harvest) Festival of the Tibetan people, and the Jumping Flower Festival of the Miao people. See the “Links of Interest” page on this website for links to other websites that provide give history, lore, and so forth about China and Chinese celebrations.

Dai People Sprinkling Water Festival

In Maine, our CAFAM celebrations include Chinese New Year with a cultural and performance event that draws large numbers of people from the Portland area and beyond. We also annually celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a potluck dinner and entertainment.

Information about upcoming events is always posted here on our website and, if you are a member or are on our mailing list, you will receive information directly.

Recent Events & Links

	On Saturday February 9th, CAFAM held its 20th Chinese New Year Celebration! To see the program from the 2008 day of demonstrations, talks, crafts for children, and vendors—including a dragon dance, the highlight of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, click here.
	To see the program of exciting Chinese song and dance performed by children from the CAFAM Chinese School during the New Year Celebration, as well as our special guest, Melan Sanders, singing selections from two famous Chinese operas, click here.
	Also, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2008 is the year of the Rat. To learn about the characteristics of people born in the year of the Rat, click this link: http://www.chinesezodiac.com/rat.php.