Public Holidays in Taiwan 2024
Taiwan celebrates a variety of public holidays throughout the year, reflecting its cultural diversity, historical significance, and religious traditions. These holidays are occasions for celebration, reflection, and community gatherings. Here is a comprehensive list and description of public holidays in Taiwan for the year 2024.
National Public Holidays
New Year’s Day – January 1st
Description: New Year’s Day, or “元旦” (Yuándàn) in Chinese, marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. It is celebrated with gatherings, parties, and fireworks displays across Taiwan. Many people make New Year’s resolutions and spend time with family and friends, reflecting on the year past and the year ahead.
Chinese New Year – January 22nd (Eve) to January 29th
Description: Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or “春節” (Chūnjié) in Chinese, is the most important traditional holiday in Taiwan. It is a time for family reunions, feasting, and cultural festivities. Homes are decorated with red lanterns and other traditional decorations to welcome the arrival of the new year. The holiday is marked by fireworks, parades, dragon and lion dances, and the giving of red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) containing money for good luck.
Peace Memorial Day – February 28th
Description: Peace Memorial Day, or “二二八紀念日” (Èr’èrbā jìniànrì) in Chinese, commemorates the 228 Incident of 1947, a pivotal event in Taiwan’s history. It honors the victims of the anti-government uprising and subsequent crackdown by the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) regime. The day is marked by ceremonies, memorial services, and cultural events to remember the tragedy and promote reconciliation.
Tomb Sweeping Day – April 4th
Description: Tomb Sweeping Day, or “清明節” (Qīngmíngjié) in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese holiday observed to honor ancestors and pay respects to the deceased. Families visit gravesites to clean and tend to the graves of their loved ones, offering prayers, burning incense, and making offerings of food and other items. It is also a time for outdoor activities such as hiking, kite flying, and enjoying the spring weather.
Labour Day – May 1st
Description: Labour Day, or “勞動節” (Láodòngjié) in Chinese, is observed worldwide to honor the contributions of workers to society. In Taiwan, it is a day for workers to advocate for their rights and to highlight labor issues. Trade unions and workers’ organizations organize rallies, marches, and events to promote workers’ rights and social justice.
Dragon Boat Festival – June 7th
Description: Dragon Boat Festival, or “端午節” (Duānwǔjié) in Chinese, is celebrated to commemorate the life and death of the ancient Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan. It is marked by dragon boat races, where teams paddle ornately decorated boats to the beat of drums and cheering crowds. The festival also includes the eating of traditional foods such as sticky rice dumplings (粽子, zòngzi) and the hanging of aromatic herbs to ward off evil spirits.
Mid-Autumn Festival – September 5th
Description: Mid-Autumn Festival, or “中秋節” (Zhōngqiūjié) in Chinese, is a traditional harvest festival celebrated with family gatherings, outdoor activities, and the eating of mooncakes. Families come together to appreciate the full moon, share mooncakes, and enjoy the beauty of the autumn season. Lanterns are also lit to symbolize brightness, happiness, and good fortune.
National Day – October 10th
Description: National Day, or “國慶日” (Guóqìngrì) in Chinese, commemorates the founding of the Republic of China (ROC) on October 10, 1911. It is one of the most important national holidays in Taiwan, celebrated with flag-raising ceremonies, parades, fireworks displays, and cultural performances. National Day highlights Taiwan’s history, democracy, and cultural heritage, as well as its aspirations for peace and prosperity.
Constitution Day – December 25th
Description: Constitution Day, or “憲法日” (Xiànfǎrì) in Chinese, commemorates the adoption of Taiwan’s constitution on December 25, 1946. It is a day to reflect on the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law enshrined in the constitution. Constitution Day is marked by educational activities, discussions, and events promoting civic engagement and constitutional awareness.
Table: Public Holidays and Days Off in Taiwan 2024
| Public Holiday | Date | Days Off | Groups of People |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | 1 day | General population |
| Chinese New Year | January 22-29 | 7 days | General population |
| Peace Memorial Day | February 28 | 1 day | General population |
| Tomb Sweeping Day | April 4 | 1 day | General population |
| Labour Day | May 1 | 1 day | Workers |
| Dragon Boat Festival | June 7 | 1 day | General population |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September 5 | 1 day | General population |
| National Day | October 10 | 1 day | General population |
| Constitution Day | December 25 | 1 day | General population |