When did Mazu Festival begin?

Mazu Festival originated in Song Dynasty and has been expanding and enriching since Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. Ancestral Temple Festival is held every year on major festivals such as Mazu's birthday (on the 23rd day of the third lunar month), ascensiontide (on the 9th day of the ninth lunar month) and Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival, and it is also held temporarily at the request of the pilgrimage team.

The history of Mazu sacrificial ceremony can be traced back to the 26th year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1 156). After Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, a series of high-standard Mazu sacrificial ceremonies were constantly enriched, improved and standardized under the promotion of rulers including the emperor and people from all walks of life.

The places where Mazu worships are basically temples. Meizhou is the birthplace of Mazu belief and customs. The Mazu Festival in Meizhou is extremely grand and a model of Mazu Festival in the world, enjoying a high reputation.

Meizhou Mazu Festival, Huangdi Mausoleum Festival and Confucius Sacrificial Ceremony are also called "three major festivals in China". It is a combination of folk activities and ancient court ceremonies, and an important part of Chinese excellent culture. It expresses China people's worship of truth, goodness and beauty, and their good wishes to conquer nature and defend their country.