The National Day of Taiwan is also known as Double Ten Day or Double Tenth Day. Here, I would like to clear up some confusion. Taiwan’s official name is the Republic of China (ROC), and even though “China” is in our name, we are not the same country as China. China’s official name is the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The reason for our similar names is quite complicated. If you are curious, you can search for it on Google. I am sure there are many articles about it.
When is the National Day
Taiwan National Day commemorates the Wuchang Uprising in 1911, which led to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. It was first celebrated in 1913 and later became an official holiday in 1949 when the ROC government moved to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party.
Unlike China’s National Day, Taiwan National Day is only a one-day public holiday, observed on October 10th. The date was also celebrated during the ROC’s rule in mainland China before 1949. The subsequent People’s Republic of China continues to observe it as the Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, but it is not a public holiday in China.
What Do We Do
Parade Performance 💃🏻
仪队表演 yíduì biǎoyǎn
The first part of the parade is always performed by the military, but people usually aren’t as interested in it as they are in the second part. The second part of performance is always led by Taiwan’s top girls’ high school, and being selected to participate is considered an honor. They perform in a style similar to a cheerleading team, which is why people tend to enjoy it more.
(The performance starts at 1:58)
- National flag-raising ceremony 🇹🇼
升旗典礼 shēngqí diǎnlǐ
The ceremony is always held in front of the Presidential Building in the morning, starting at 7:30 AM. People gather in front of the national flag and sing the national anthem together. As the song is being sung, the national flag is slowly raised up. When the flag reaches the top, the government releases many doves.
- Giving a speech 🗣️
致辞 zhìcí
The President of Taiwan typically delivers the speech, which serves as an opportunity to highlight the government’s accomplishments and outline its priorities for the coming year. The speech may touch on issues such as economic growth, foreign relations, and national security. It is also a time for the president to reaffirm Taiwan’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and self-determination. However, in reality, this is usually when people start to leave and go buy breakfast.
- Military Vehicles Parade ✈️
军机表演 jūnjī biǎoyǎn
The Taiwan National Day military parade includes a display of military vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and other specialized vehicles. The military parade is typically held in the afternoon after the morning ceremony and speeches. The public is allowed to attend the parade, but they must pass through security checkpoints and adhere to strict rules and regulations.
- Fireworks 🎇
烟火 yānhuǒ
Usually, there is an hours-long fireworks display held in a different county each year. The explosions are large, colorful, and elaborate. There are also smaller firework displays in different cities across the island. People gather around to watch the fireworks and take tons of pictures. It’s such a festive atmosphere with everyone cheering and enjoying the beautiful display.
Taiwan National Song
Fun Fact
In recent years, Taiwan has been using “silent fireworks” during the National Day fireworks display to promote environmental protection. These fireworks produce less noise and air pollution, making it a more eco-friendly celebration. But, some people feel that the lack of noise makes the atmosphere less lively and festive.
