|
Double Tenth Day - Festival Web |
|
 Double Tenth Day is the national day of the Republic of China (ROC; now in Taiwan) and celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911 (1911-10-10), which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty. It is therefore also known in Chinese as National Celebration Day.
In Taiwan, the official celebration starts with raising of the flag of the Republic of China in front of the Presidential Building, followed by public singing of the National Anthem of the Republic of China. Prior to the lift of martial law in 1987, the celebration in front of the Presidential Building also included a military parade. Later in the day, the President of the Republic of China addresses the country and fireworks displays are held throughout the major cities of the island.
Outside of Taiwan, Double Tenth Day is also celebrated by many Overseas Chinese communities, especially by anti-communism groups. Sizable Double Tenth Day parades occur yearly in Chinatowns of San Francisco and Chicago.
In mainland China, it is celebrated as the anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution.
Before the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the PRC in 1997, many ROC supporters there would display patriotic and colorful flags (mainly the national flag of ROC) to celebrate Double Tenth Day. While the day continues to be celebrated in Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty to the mainland, it is much more low-key. The "Double Tenth Day" name is used less often and ROC flag displaying mostly moves indoors. Larger festivities now occur on October 1, the National Day of the PRC.
Wuchang Uprising
The Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911 started the Xinhai Revolution, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC).
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as the 1911 Revolution or the Chinese Revolution, began with the Wuchang Uprising on 10 October 1911 and ended with the abdication of Emperor Puyi on 12 February 1912. The primary parties to the conflict were the Imperial forces of the Qing Dynasty, and the revolutionary forces of the Revolutionary Alliance (Tongmenghui). The revolution is so named because 1911 is a Xinhai Year in the sexagenary cycle of the Chinese calendar.
The immediate result of the revolution was not a republican form of government. The provisional central government was weak and the country was still politically fragmented. The monarchy was briefly and abortively restored twice, and there was a period of military rule.
Today, the Xinhai Revolution is commemorated in Taiwan as Double Ten Day. In mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau the same day is usually celebrated as the Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. Many overseas Chinese also celebrate the anniversary, termed either "Double Ten Day" or "Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution", and events are usually held in Chinatowns across the world.
|
|
Holidays
