Some DO’s and DON’Ts of eating in Taiwan
- While waiting for your food, don’t play with your chopsticks, and never stick them in the rice bowl. Vertical chopsticks indicates death.
- It is okay to hold your bowl close to your mouth and shovel the food with your chopsticks.
- Always serve your companions tea before pouring your own.
- When someone pours tea for you, thank the pourer by gently tapping on the table with your middle finger.
- When you need a fresh pot of tea, simply remove the lid and set it on the table.
- Don’t poke around in the communal bowl for food.
- Never serve food from the communal bowl using your chopsticks.
Calendar of Festivals and Holidays
- Founding Day January 1
- Chinese New Year January or February
- 2-28 February 28
- Tomb Sweep Day April 5
- Birth of Matsu April or May
- Dragon Boat Festival June
- Teacher’s Day September 28
- Moon Festival September or October
- National Day October 10
- Retrocession Day October 25
- Constitution Day December 2
Fun FACTS!
- Tea drinking is a national pastime in Taiwan.
- Popular sports include: Tai Chi, Baseball, and basketball
- in 2002, Ching-Feng Chen became 1st Taiwanese to play Major League Baseball in the U.S.
Some General DOs and DON’Ts
- Always take your shoes off when entering a Taiwanese home.
- Don’t give a handkerchief as a gift because it means you think the person will cry soon.
- Do not write in red ink, unless you are writing a letter of protest or correcting an exam.
- When entering a room, always greet the eldest person first as a sign of respect.
Posted by jting 
