Now the anniversary is often used to promote better relationships between the army and civilians, a tradition believed to have helped it beat the Nationalists during the civil war in 1949. It is yet to become an established holiday. It is the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 in the wake of routing the Nationalists who have since taken refuge in Taiwan. There used to be grand parades squares of major cities of the country. Now celebrations usually take the form of parties in amusement parks by day and fire-works and grand TV ensembles during the evening.
Employees enjoy two paid days-off.
It is also a good occasion for many people to take a short excursion to enjoy the beauty of the golden Fall. The calendar the Chinese traditional holidays follow is of a unique lunar-solar system. Therefore, 1st of the 1st month referred here does not necessarily mean January 1. It is very much celebrated in the rural areas by farmers. The Lantern Festival also marks the end of the Chinese New Year season.