An Analysis of the Festivals and Holidays Celebrated by the Red Army During the Long March

Zhao Xiaobo

Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences

Abstract: The Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army is hailed as the “Red Ribbon on the Earth.” The Long March was characterized by revolutionary heroism and, at the same time, was no lack of revolutionary romanticism. This arduous journey also presented two difficult questions: whether to celebrate festivals and holidays or not and whether to celebrate them simply or grandly. By exploring such trade-offs, we can appreciate a strong sense of national identity among the Red Army soldiers as idealists, grasp more historical details of the world-shattering Long March, and feel the resilience and greatness of the Chinese nation.

Keywords: the Red Army, the Long March, festivals and holidays, a sense of national identity

From October 1934 to October 1936, the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (hereinafter referred to as the “Chinese Red Army,” or the “Red Army”), including its First, Second, and Fourth Front Army, as well as the 25th Legion undertook the great Long March. For the Central Red Army (i.e., First Front Army), “during the twelve months (spent on the Long March), almost every day they had to fight their way out while dodging the reconnaissance and bombardment of dozens of hostile from above the sky and the encirclement, pursuit, obstruction, and interception of hundreds of thousands of enemy troops on the ground. All through the journey, there were untold hardships and dangers” (Mao, 1991, p. 150). Nevertheless, “(they) traveled on foot across 11 provinces and completed a journey of over 20,000 li (1 li equals to 0.5 km)” (Mao, 1991, p. 150). By combining the solution to their survival crisis with the rescue of the Chinese nation in peril and by combining revolutionary idealism with revolutionary heroism, the main forces of the Red Army worked together to write a great epic as part of humankind’s unremitting efforts to pursue truth and light. During the Long March, the Red Army, depending on the time and place, celebrated (modern and traditional) festivals, holidays, and special anniversaries. A study of the festivals and holidays celebrated by the Red Army during the Long March can bring a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the Red Army and the Long March and allow later generations to draw strength from history to move forward and embark on a “Long March” of their own.

Forging Ahead: How to Celebrate International Festivals and Holidays

Festivals are the outcomes of the common culture, the common mindset, and the common vision. International holidays such as New Year’s Day, International Workers’ Day (on May 1), and International Women’s Day (on March 8) were introduced to China long before the Long March and were popular in China for a long time. Both International Workers’ Day and International Women’s Day, featuring distinct class characters, were more popular with the Chinese toiling masses. In order to open up whole new vistas for the Chinese nation and build a better future for the toiling masses in then China, the Chinese Red Army “underwent various harsh natural environments, crossed raging rivers, climbed over snow-capped mountains with rare air, and plodded through the vast grasslands known as the ‘death trap’” (Research Group ITOLM, 2019, p. 4). Amidst the flames of war during the Long March, the Red Army did not forget these important festivals and holidays. Rather, they tried every possible means to celebrate them in a bid to get inspired, improve cohesion, gather strength, and boost confidence in the ultimate victory of the Long March and the Chinese revolution.

How to Celebrate the New Year

The first day of the year in the modern Gregorian calendar is commonly regarded as New Year’s Day in most countries around the world. And it is customary to call this day Yuandan (meaning New Year’s Day) in Chinese. The Chinese Red Army spent the New Years of 1935 and 1936 during the Long March. In the New Year of 1935, the First Front Army, which was away from the Central Soviet Area for less than three months, was in an ambiguous situation with ongoing debates over military roadmap and military leadership. Therefore, it was necessary to boost morale by celebrating the New Year, a symbol of new life and a new beginning. By the New Year of 1936, the First Front Army had already completed the Long March and reached northern Shaanxi, while the rest of the Red Army forces still on the Long March had to celebrate the New Year according to actual conditions.

The New Year of 1935 was celebrated in a grand and joyous way. On January 1, 1935, Zhu De, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Red Army, issued an order on the celebration of the New Year among all Red Army soldiers. The order reads, “Each person is to receive a 20-cent meal subsidy as a New-Year gift” (PLRC, 2016, p. 445). This order was confirmed in the recollections of Lu Dingyi, then an officer of the Publicity Division of the General Political Department of the Chinese Red Army. It was cloudy on January 1, 1935. “Commander-in-Chief Zhu ordered, ‘Each person is to receive a 20-cent meal subsidy as New-Year.’ The CMC columns celebrated the New Year (of 1935) in Houchang Town” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 278).

First, some legions celebrated this day by having a meeting. As recalled by Lai Chuanzhu,①Lai Chuanzhu, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in October 1934, was then the Political Commissar of the First Division of the First Legion, and later the Undersecretary of the Organization Sector under the Political Branch of the First Legion, and the Political Commissar of the Fifth Regiment of the Second Division of the First Legion.his legion “camped at Longxi and held an activists’ meeting there to usher in the New Year” (PHRC, 2016a, p.278).

Second, some legions celebrated this day by having a dinner party. As recalled by Chen Bojun,②Chen Bojun, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in October 1934, successively served as Chief of Staff of the Fifth Legion and Chief of Staff of the Fourth Legion. After the joining of Red Army forces in Maogong, he was transferred to the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army, serving as Chief of Staff of the Ninth Legion and of the Fourth Legion in succession. After the joining of Red Army forces in Ganzi, he was again transferred to the Second Front Army of the Red Army, serving as Chief of the Sixth Legion.on December 31, 1934, “everyone bought a lot of delicious food, and the army was also preparing for a dinner party. It was full of New Year’s atmosphere. In the evening, the political branch brought some food to us, and everyone had a good meal. Thus, the roaring, the war-ridden year of 1934 ended on the march” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 74). As recalled by Peng Shaohui,③Peng Shaohui embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in October 1934. After the joining of Red Army forces in Maogong, he served as Chief of Staff of the 30th Legion of the Fourth Front Army, and Chief of the Section of Advanced Politics, and military instructor of the Red Army University under the Fourth Front Army. After the joining of Red Army forces in Ganzi, he served as Chief of Staff and member of the CPC Committee of the Sixth Legion of the Second Front Army.that day his legion “was resting in Yuqing, preparing for the New Year. At noon, we were invited to lunch by the Legion Headquarters and had a very good meal. There was a dinner party in the evening, and all soldiers attended it. Xiang Su from the Organization Sector under the Political Unit of our division brought some meat. The legion had a good rest and celebrated the New Year happily” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 327).

Third, more legions celebrated this day by having both a meeting and a dinner party. As recalled by Zhao Rong,④Zhao Rong, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in 1934, successively served as Chief of the Accounting Section of the General Supply Division and head of the Supply Division of the Ninth Legion of the First Front Army. After the joining of Red Army forces in Maogong, he served as Principal of the Supply School under the Fourth Front Army. After the joining of Red Army forces in Ganzi, he served as head of the Supply Division of the 32nd Legion.his legion was resting on standby in Yuqing on December 31, 1934. “The Political Branch of our legion informed that all units should prepare for the New Year celebration. The Legion Headquarters held a get-together for platoon leaders, regimental commanders, and cadres above in rank. Both Comrade Kai Feng (He Kequan) from the Central Working Group and Comrade Cai Shupan, the Political Commissar of the (Ninth) Legion, made a speech at the gettogether. The get-together was followed by a dinner. This was the first grand celebration since the founding of the Ninth Legion. At the end of the celebration, the head of the Ninth Legion said in a loud voice, ‘To the year of 1935, and to the victory of the Red Army, cheers! Let’s enjoy this rice wine!’” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 445). Lin Wei①Lin Wei, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in October 1934, served as an operations staff officer and surveyor at the Staff Section of the Headquarters of the Ninth Legion. After the joining of Red Army forces in Maogong, he briefly served as Chief of the Secretariate Section under the Political Branch of the 32nd Legion before being transferred to the General Sanitation Division.shared a similar memory of this New Year celebration with Zhao Rong. He stressed, “It was a huge celebration that had been unprecedented ever since the establishment of our legion…It was a party held during the expedition. Everyone was very happy to come” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 896). As recalled by Tong Xiaopeng,②Tong Xiaopeng, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in October 1934, was Secretary at the Political Branch and also the Security Bureau (under the Political Branch) of the First Legion.his legion “enjoyed six bowls of food at dinner and had a big, boisterous party” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 788).

Of course, there were some legions unable to celebrate the New Year of 1935 (in the modern Gregorian calendar). Among them was the legion to which Xiao Feng③Xiao Feng, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in October 1934, served as Secretary of CPC General Branch of the Third Regiment of the First Division of the First Legion, and head of the Inspection Team of the Political Unit of the First Division of the First Legion.belonged. On December 31, 1934, the legion “set out at 4 pm. We had no time to enjoy the chicken and pork. So we gave some to workers and peasants for free and had the rest half-cooked and ate them on our way. The hostile aircraft bombed around, but we did not care. We just kept walking” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1069).

With the year 1936 just around the corner, there were plenty of events to be held to welcome the New Year. Take Tong Xiaopeng’s legion as an example. “Everyone was enthusiastically preparing for the dinner party to celebrate this year’s victory and expect an even greater victory in the year 1936. The dinner party began at 3 pm. Although the food was not so delicious, there were 12 bowls of different items to feed our appetite. After the meal, the party began, with shows performed by actors from all branches of our legion. This is arguably a breakthrough in our cultural and entertainment work. I had been away from the theater as an actor for years, and today I once again went onto the stage.” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 842).

Zhao Rong’s legion also celebrated the second New Year during the Long March. “Today is the New Year’s Day, and we have a day off. In the morning, relevant units of the Supply Division held a few small meetings. The whole afternoon was our free time” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 605). Wu Yunfu④Wu Yunfu, who embarked on the Long March with the First Front Army in 1934, served as Deputy Director of the Third Bureau of the Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central Committee. After the joining of Red Army forces in Maogong, he was transferred to be the Political Commissar of the Third Bureau of the Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central Committee. In October that year, he followed the General Headquarters of the Red Army southwards to the Sichuan-Xikang border region. In the spring of 1936, he began to serve as Political Commissar of the Second Bureau of the General Headquarters of the Red Army.attended a dinner party on January 1, 1936 (PHRC, 2016b, p. 746). On the same day, Lin Wei’s legion “marched for over 80liinto Dawei…Today, we spent New Year’s Day in Dawei” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1010). Wang Enmao⑤Wang Enmao served as a publicity officer of the Political Branch and then as Secretary-General of the Political Branch of the Sixth Legion when on an expedition to the west. During the Long March, he successively served as Secretary-General of the CPC Committee of the Hunan-Hubei-Sichuan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base and Secretary-General of the CPC Committee of the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Revolutionary Base.followed his legion to Aichong in Zhijiang County, Hunan, and thus “spent New Year’s Day in Aichong” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1280). Xiao Feng finally celebrated the New Year of 1936. “In the evening, I attended the show staged by our soldiers’ troupe. It was fun” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1160).

How to Celebrate May Day

International Workers’ Day is also known as May Day and Labor Day in China. This holiday was of great significance to the Chinese Red Army. After all, during that time in China, workers and peasants were the main laborers and also the main body of the Chinese Red Army. The pioneers of the Communist Party of China (CPC) began early to introduce the history of May Day and advocate the celebration of it. As this international holiday had a natural affinity with the Chinese Red Army, it is undoubtedly logical to celebrate it during the Long March.

The May Day of 1935 was commemorated in a simple way. Most of the Red Army soldiers spent this day sticking to their posts and doing their job well. Lin Wei, a veteran Red Army soldier, said, “Today is International Workers’ Day when working people all over the world celebrate their great festival. The Chinese Red Army is the army of the Chinese working class, which strives for the liberation of the proletariat. Now, we are marching towards Yunnan, and we would like to commemorate this day with high morale” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 955). Xiao Feng’s legion commemorated May Day in the midst of fierce battle (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1102). Chen Bojun specifically highlighted May 1 as the “Labor Day” in his diary, and he spent this day on routine work. “In the evening, I went to the 39th Regiment to attend the meeting of cadres (platoon leaders and above). During the meeting, present actions were briefed, and problems arising from the Shazhai battle were reviewed” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 107).

The May Day of 1936 was celebrated in various ways. Wu Yunfu was busy for days preparing for May Day. As early as April 23, the preparations began; on April 26, there was a selection of preparatory players for the celebration of May Day; on April 28, there was a preparatory meeting for this celebration; on May 1, “a commemorative conference was held to mark this day, followed by a parade, cavalry performance, and various competitions” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 759). Chen Bojun highlighted the day, May 1, 1936, as the “Great International Workers’ Day.” On that day, he was stationed at Zhanhua①Zhanhua, present-day Xinlong County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province.with his legion. This was the second May Day he spent during the Long March. “After breakfast, I went to the Political Branch’s site to prepare for the commemorative conference. The conference started at 8 o’clock. Comrade (Hong) Xuezhi chaired the conference, and I reported to it. And Comrade (Chen) Xilian also said a few words. Due to the sudden rain, the conference was adjourned with slogans, and no parade or celebration was held” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 205). At that time, Zhao Rong was with his legion in Luhuo County. Zhao wrote, “Today is May Day, and we have a day off. I took the trainees to the Health Section to see their wall posters. With the word ‘Health’ being the masthead, their wall poster was similar to ours in terms of content but was better arranged. In the afternoon, we had a lively symposium, where everyone expressed opinions freely and had a good time” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 635).

In addition to International Workers’ Day (on May 1), the Red Army also celebrated other international holidays such as International Women’s Day (on March 8) during the Long March. Zhao Rong recalled how they spent the day of March 8, 1936. Zhao wrote, “After dinner, at sunset, I went to the encampment of the female workers’ team at the invitation of Director Wang of the Political Division. There were about 170 to 180 women workers, along with students of the Supply School and secretaries from the Political Division, all gathering at the foot of a hill to attend my presentation on the history of International Women’s Day on March 8” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 622).

In fact, celebrating the New Year during the Long March, especially the New Year of 1935, meant a lot to the Red Army soldiers. The New Year, a symbol of hope, well fitted into the Red Army’s grand vision of building a new society and creating a better future, and reflected the Red Army’s desire for new vistas and a fresh start when the future was uncertain. International Workers’ Day and International Women’s Day, which shared common “cultural genes” with the Chinese workers and peasants, could easily resonate with them. By celebrating such international days, the Red Army could better feel the international significance of their mission and the global impact of their cause and thus stay united to advance towards victory.

Past and Present: How to Celebrate Traditional Chinese Festivals and Holidays

Festivals and holidays feature continuity and inheritance. Traditional Chinese festivals have a long history and deep cultural deposits. Reunions are a major theme for traditional Chinese festivals. Festivals such as the Chinese New Year’s Eve, the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), the Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival are all happy times for family reunions. On the happy festival, more than ever, we think of our relatives far away. Even faced with treacherous environments and fierce battles, the Red Army still held fast to the Chinese tradition during the Long March. The Red Army soldiers would find every chance to celebrate traditional Chinese festivals, which could comfort their souls and boost their confidence in the upcoming victory.

How to Celebrate the Chinese New Year’s Eve

The 30th day of the twelfth month on the Chinese lunar calendar is commonly known as Chinese New Year’s Eve. According to Chinese tradition, it is a day to see the old year out and welcome the New Year, and also a day for family reunions. The Red Army soldiers during the Long March did not forget this “big day.” Wu Yunfu wrote clearly in his diary, “Today is New Year’s Eve according to the old calendar (Chinese lunar calendar)－the 30th day (of the twelfth month).” Lai Chuanzhu mentioned in the diary, “Today is the very end of the old calendar year” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 282). It was such an important festival that the Red Army could not miss it. They celebrated it in their own way. First, there were soldiers wishing to celebrate it but unable to make it. Among those soldiers was Zhao Rong, who was marching with the legion in the wild. The harsh condition out there just did not allow any celebration on the Chinese New Year’s Eve. He wrote, “It’s Chinese New Year’s Eve, and most people will practice ‘shousui’ (staying up late) as a tradition. But our troops have been either in an engagement with the enemy or on rapid march every day for about two weeks, feeling totally exhausted. Particularly over the past week, we haven’t got one good night’s sleep at all. Besides, along the way, there are many soldiers but few civilians, making it very difficult to buy food. Some of our troops were only given a small amount of food to appease their days-long hunger. Under such circumstances, we are too tired to care about the traditional practice of ‘shousui’ (staying up late) at the end of the year” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 463). Second, there were soldiers celebrating it in a special way. Peng Shaohui spent the last day of the year on the march with his legion. On that very day, they “completed a journey of 60liwhile the civilians were celebrating Chinese New Year” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 333).

How to Celebrate the Spring Festival

Of all traditional Chinese festivals, the most festive and most valued one is the Spring Festival. The Spring Festival refers to the New Year’s Day of the traditional Chinese calendar. That is why it is commonly known as the Chinese New Year. After the Revolution of 1911, the Gregorian calendar, which was already commonly used worldwide, was applied in China, and accordingly, the Chinese New Year’s Day was changed to the Spring Festival (to avoid confusion). However, both the Gregorian calendar and the traditional Chinese calendar have been used simultaneously in China. Much more importance is attached to the Spring Festival than the New Year’s Day based on the Gregorian calendar. The Spring Festival is a grand and hopeful festival that symbolizes the return of spring and the renewal of all things. From February 3 to February 5, 1935, Mao Zedong and other CPC leaders, along with the Red Army forces, were resting in Shixiangzi Township, Sichuan. February 4 happened to be the Spring Festival, so the First Front Army celebrated the only Spring Festival during the Long March on the spot. Chen Bojun, who was with the First Front Army during the Long March, recalled, “In recent two days, we are at the end of the old calendar year. The landlords and the gentry are busy preparing for the Chinese New Year’s Eve. As we are staying at a landlord’s house, we celebrated the Chinese New Year’s Eve with the special purchases prepared by the landlord for the Spring Festival” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 85).

Zhao Rong spent two Spring Festivals during the Long March, with one celebrated and the other not due to harsh conditions. During the Spring Festival on February 4, 1935, Zhao Rong’s legion marched 120lito the camp at Shixiangzi Township. Fatigued by a long journey, they were unable to celebrate the Spring Festival. “Today is the first day of the Yihai year according to the traditional Chinese calendar. Chinese people regard this day as the most important festival of the year. Indeed, as the old saying goes, ‘During the happy festival, more than ever, we think of our relatives far away.’ At this very moment, we Red Army soldiers are as homesick as all Chinese people. Of course, we all know it’s Chinese New Year’s Eve. Of course, we all miss our family. But we are highly disciplined Red Army soldiers. Although we miss our family, we don’t regret leaving them and joining the revolution. Only by doing so can we save them from oppression and exploitation” (PHRC, 2016b, pp. 463-464). The second Spring Festival (during the Long March) came on January 24, 1936. And the soldiers spent it in a special way. “Today is the Spring Festival, and we have a day off. Still, no one is really ‘on holiday’, or can afford to take a break. The trainees are learning to read and write Chinese characters in small groups” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 613).

How to Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanyang, the Duanwu, and the Double Fifth Festival in Mandarin, is generally considered a day that commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a poet and loyal minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States period (475 BC－221 BC). A notable part of celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival is making and eatingzongzi(traditional Chinese ricepudding). In 1935 the Dragon Boat Festival came on June 5. Back then, the First Front Army was taking a break in Luding, where the Red Army soldiers were in a position to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in advance. Some already celebrated it on June 3. Lin Wei recalled how he was resting with the troops in Luding in his diary. He wrote, “Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. We bought a lot of rice puddings and sugar on the street for celebration. It is a traditional festival in our country. People in south China attach great importance to this festival and would take leave to return home for reunion even in a faraway place” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 977). Some celebrated it on June 4, including the General Supply Division of the First Front Army. They arrived at Luding that day when it was sunny. “Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. This morning, relevant units of the General Supply Division held various meetings to further rectify the military discipline. By noon, everyone went to the street to buy rice puddings. It was a special treat to celebrate this festival following our major victory in swiftly crossing the natural barrier” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 530).

How to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important traditional Chinese festival, which emphasizes family reunions. That evening, a family is supposed to get together, having moon cakes while viewing the full moon. On the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1935, however, the Red Army was not in the mood of celebration, nor could they make it. The Mid-Autumn Festival of 1935 was on September 12, when there was still disagreement within the Red Army as to whether to move north or south. So, the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn reunion was gone. On that day, “(although) the moon was bright at night, the troops were stationed in a Tibetan community where there was barely food to eat, to say nothing of the mood of viewing the moon. It seems that everyone has forgotten this traditional festival” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 570).

As the famous Chinese poem goes, “The moon does wax, the moon does wane. And so men meet and say goodbye.” To Zhang Ziyi, the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1936 was a day of work despite illness (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1249). To Chen Bojun, however, it was a day of happiness. He wrote, “We had lunch at the Sanitation Department, where we talked with cadres in rehabilitation and the staff” (PHRC, 2016a, p.260). To those who worked for the Red Army, it was also a day of happiness. “Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and sewing workers came to anticipate their wages. So I asked Section Chief Liu to pay all the salaries up to today, plus a Mid-Autumn Festival bonus, namely, an extra three-day salary. The workers all said that the Red Army treated them fairly and reasonably, as opposed to the Kuomintang, who repeatedly deducted workers’ wages, making it difficult for them to support their families. By contrast, the Red Army cherished their work and even gave them a bonus, which made them deeply touched” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 676).

Also, as the above famous Chinese poem goes, “I only pray our life be long. And our souls together heavenward fly!” Both the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Spring Festival are happy times for family reunions. But the Red Army, who were idealists, could not be reunited with their families. They traveled enormous distances, underwent a trial of death, and sacrificed their own interests for the public good. They were willing to make every sacrifice to bring peace and prosperity to a myriad of families and allow more people and more families to enjoy the moment of reunion and celebration. This showcased their sense of national identity and the very reason for the Red Army to embark on the Long March. Well aware that their temporary separation was precisely for the future reunion, the Red Army soldiers drew more strength from traditional festivals as they marched forward.

Staying True to the Original Intention: How to Celebrate the Red Army’s Own Festivals and Holidays

Festivals and holidays are conventional and feature certain dynamics. Some “big days,” on which major events took place, were commemorated or celebrated by people year after year and thus gradually became regular festivals and holidays. The great struggle and spectacular journey of the Chinese Red Army was a source of new festivals and holidays. During the Long March, the Chinese Red Army tried their best to commemorate or celebrate the “big days” of their own. By doing so, they enhanced their cultural and political identity, united as one, and became firm believers in Marxism.

How to Celebrate the Army Day

The Nanchang Uprising of 1927 fired the opening shot of armed resistance against KMT reactionaries. This marked the start of the Communist Party of China’s journey to lead the revolutionary struggle independently, build the people’s armed forces, and seize state power by force. As specified in theCentral Revolutionary Military Commission’s Orderissued on June 30, 1933, “It was decided that August 1 every year since 1933 would be observed as the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants’ Red Army to commemorate the Nanchang Uprising and the founding of the Red Army (i.e., the Army Day)” (PLRC & CAB, 2011, p. 307). It was a holiday that belonged exclusively to the CPC and the Red Army. Therefore, it was of great significance. On August 1, 1935, Chen Bojun specially mentioned in his diary that it was “the anniversary of the great Army Day” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 140). On August 1, 1936, Zhang Ziyi wrote in the diary, “Commemorate the first day of August” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1239), while Chen Bojun wrote, “the ninth anniversary of the founding of the Red Army” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 260).

To celebrate the Army Day of 1935, the Red Army made elaborate preparations. Chen Bojun’s legion was stationed in Fubian Township at the time. On the morning of July 31, he “drafted the ‘History and Significance of the Army Day’” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 139). Zhao Rong’s legion conducted a campaign that lasted for days. On July 31, “with the help of Chief Zhang of the Publicity Section, we prepared a few sideshows for the celebration in the morning. After dinner, all staff of the Supply Division gathered at the village square to attend a commemorative meeting. As usual, I chaired this meeting and made a speech. After that, it was time for sideshows. The celebration lasted till late night” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 558). On the afternoon of August 1, “on the lawn of the Lama Temple in Songgang, the Political Branch of the Legion held a meeting to commemorate the Nanchang Uprising” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 558). Relevant comrades also made keynote speeches. Even on August 3, Zhao Rong and his comrades at the Supply Division still “met throughout the day to discuss the report on the commemoration of the Nanchang Uprising” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 558). For his part, Lin Wei, a veteran Red Army soldier, found the Army Day of 1935 particularly meaningful. “Today is August 1, which marked the eighth anniversary of the founding of the Red Army and also our Army Day. The CPC Central Committee issued the historic ‘Letter to All Compatriots on Resisting Japanese Aggression and Saving the Country’ (also known as the ‘August First Declaration’) in Maoergai. The letter called for stopping the civil war and uniting to resist Japanese aggression and advocated the establishment of a unified government for national defense and an anti-Japanese coalition” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1005).

The Red Army celebrated the Army Day of 1936 by convention. Zhao Rong wrote in his diary, “Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of the Nanchang Uprising, and the Political Division of the Front Army has informed that each unit should organize its own commemoration. At 5 o’clock this afternoon, our Supply School had a memorial meeting, at which I gave a brief introduction to the background and the story of the Nanchang Uprising” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 657). Xiao Feng’s legion celebrated the ninth anniversary of the Army Day in the field. And he himself delivered a speech at the celebration. He said, “It has been nine years since the founding of our army. Under the leadership and guidance of Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman Zhou, and Commander-in-Chief Zhu, we managed to overcome countless hardships, twists and turns, as well as failures, and finally achieved the victory of our march towards the north and reached the Soviet area in northern Shaanxi” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1182).

How to Celebrate the Anniversary of the Long March

The First Front Army embarked on the Long March in October 1934 and eventually arrived at Wuqi Town in northern Shaanxi on October 19, 1935, completing the 25,000liLong March, a spectacular journey that stunned the world. The Second and Sixth Legion (both of which were combined with the 32nd Legion on July 5, 1936) set out on the Long March on November 19, 1935, and arrived at Jiangtaibao, Gansu on October 22, 1936, ending the Long March by successfully joining up with the First Front Army. The Fourth Front Army began the “strategic shift” in late March 1935 and reached Huining, Gansu in October 1936 to join up with the First Front Army, thus completing the Long March. The 25th Legion began its Long March in November 1934 and reached Yongping Town in Yanchuan County, Shaanxi, in 1935. There, it joined up with the Shaanxi-Gansu Red Army, becoming the first legion to reach northern Shaanxi and complete the Long March. There were several major unions of Red Army forces. Consequently, key dates that marked the start of the Long March, the joining of Red Army forces, and the triumphant completion of the Long March became holidays unique to the Red Army.

First, the Red Army soldiers celebrated the anniversary of the start of the Long March, which had engraved on their memory. In his diary, Chen Bojun mentioned October 18 as the anniversary of the breakout. The so-called breakout was, in fact, the anniversary of his legion’s departure from Jiangxi to embark on the Long March. It was a historic day to be remembered, for also on this day, Mao Zedong “left the county town of Yudu and embarked on the Long March” (PLRC, 2013, p. 435). On October 18, 1935, Chen Bojun wrote, “It occurs to me that on this same day last year, we left the model county of Xingguo in the Central Soviet Area. Over the past year, we have traveled across seven or eight provinces, completed a journey filled with numerous difficulties and dangers, and eventually arrived in central Sichuan safely. But what exactly were all such blood and sweat for? I simply could not bear to think of it because it would make me weep in the quiet of the night. Time flies, with our lofty aspirations unrealized” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 171). The day, October 18, 1936, marked the second anniversary of the breakout. Earlier, on October 9, the Fourth Front Army had already arrived in Huining, Gansu, where they joined up with the First Front Army. In mid-September, the Second Front Army successively conquered several places in southeastern Gansu and quickly moved north. In such a context, Chen Bojun wrote, “Today was a most meaningful, gratifying and memorable day. It has been two years since we embarked on the Long March from the Central Soviet Area. We left the previous revolutionary base and wandered around grassland regions inhabited by ethnic groups. Fortunately, the Second Front Army went north so that all Red Army forces could be united in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region. It was a victory of the Chinese nation against the Japanese aggression and against the Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi), and also a victory of the CPC and the (Chinese) Soviet Republic” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 266).

It was no coincidence that Zhang Ziyi①Zhang Ziyi, who set out on the Long March with the Second and the Sixth Legion, served as Director of the Political Branch of the Second Legion. After the joining of Red Army forces in Ganzi, he became Director of the Political Division of the Second Front Army.also branded the day his legion set out on the Long March on his mind. On November 19, 1936, he wrote, “(Today marks) the anniversary of the Long Marchthe Long March of the Second and Sixth Legion. It started a year ago today and ends today” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1257). The next day, his legion “had a day off for a commemorative meeting to celebrate the victory of the Long March” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1258). At the commemorative meeting, Zhang himself gave a speech on the victorious Long March over the past year.

Second, the Red Army soldiers celebrated the joining of Red Army forces during the Long March. On June 12, 1935, the spearhead of the First Front Army joined up with the spearhead of the Fourth Front Army at Dawei Town. On June 18, the CPC Central Committee and the major force of the First Front Army arrived at the Maogong (present-day Xiaojin County) area. This famous joining of the Red Army forces was forever memorable to the Red Army soldiers. To celebrate this joining, each legion held a series of activities respectively.

When Zhao Rong and his legion comrades were informed of the joining of the Red Army forces in Dawei Town, they were all exceptionally excited. “Upon hearing the news, the commanders and soldiers, who were already asleep, all got up with excitement!” “Comrades of the transport team and the regulatory company all sang cheerful songs together while preparing for the trip. They could not wait to fly over the snow-capped mountains to the other side to join with comrades of the Fourth Front Army” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 533). To celebrate this joining of the Red Army forces, they had two celebrations. The first celebration was on the evening of June 17 when they arrived at Dawei. “We were overjoyed at the successful joining of the two major armies. To celebrate it, we had a fairly grand evening party. Both sides staged a number of short but brilliant theatrical items, including revolutionary songs and living newspaper dramas. This joyful atmosphere brought us into a state of high excitement” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 537). The second celebration was on the evening of June 19 when they arrived at Maogong. “We had a grand get-together on a large playground in the town. The stage was hung with a long red banner bearing the words ‘Celebrating the Great Joining of the First and Fourth Front Army.’ There were many gifts from the Ninth Legion, and they were all on display. Senior officers from the two armies took turns to make a speech, cheering each other on and calling for more interactions to learn from each other. Their touching speeches aroused waves of applause from the audience. After the meeting, art troupes from the two armies gave us a theatrical show, singing and dancing late into the night” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 538).

All legions of the Red Army celebrated the joining of Red Army forces by having a get-together. Tong Xiaopeng arrived at Maogong Town with the First Legion on June 16, 1935. He wrote, “Tonight, we had a party with the spearhead of the Fourth Front Army, and everyone had a good time. The comrades of the Fourth Front Army were very friendly to us, and therefore worth our admiration. Moreover, they outperformed us in terms of morale and discipline, so we should learn from them” (PHRC, 2016b, p. 810). On June 17, the Ninth Legion, to which Lin Wei belonged, arrived at Dawei Town. In collaboration with comrades from the 25th Division of the Ninth Legion of the Fourth Front Army, they “held an evening party, at which promotion teams from both sides staged living newspaper dramas and sang new songs” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 985). When they entered the Maogong Town on June 18, they also received a warm welcome from other Red Army forces already there. The grand official celebration in Maogong on the evening of June 19 was still vivid in Lin Wei’s memory. He wrote in his diary, “In the evening, we had a party for soldiers from the two armies on a large playground in the east of the town. The stage was hung with a long red banner bearing the slogan ‘Celebrating the Great Joining of the First and Fourth Front Army’. There were many gifts on display. Senior officers from the two sides took turns to make a speech, cheering each other on and interacting with soldiers there friendly. Their wonderful speeches aroused waves of applause from the audience. Our impassioned, lusty singing resounded through the mountains on both sides of the river valley. Art troupes from both sides staged well-prepared theatrical items, singing and dancing late into the night” (PHRC, 2016c, 986). On June 14, the news of the joining of the two main forces came to the Sixth Legion, to which Wang Enmao belonged. Back then, they were resting in a faraway place called Banzhai in Longshan County, Hunan. “In the afternoon, a congratulatory meeting was held…to celebrate the successful joining of the Central Field Army (i.e., the First Front Army) and the Fourth Front Army” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1273).

Third, the Red Army soldiers celebrated the final joining of the Red Army forces, which marked the ultimate victory of the Long March. On October 9, 1936, the Headquarters of the Fourth Front Army arrived at Huining, where it joined up with the First Front Army. On the evening of October 14, Lin Wei’s legion “attended a grand reunion for over ten thousand people on the playground of Huining Middle School to celebrate the joining of Red Army forces” (PHRC, 2016c, p. 1041). Soldiers from the two front armies sang military songs loudly and watched the show staged by the Warrior Theatrical Troupe till late at night. “On October 22 and 23 (1936), the Second and Sixth Legion respectively joined up with forces from the First Front Army in Jiangtaibao Town and Xinglong Town. Thus, the Second and Fourth Front Army completed the Long March” (PHRC, 2016d, p. 400). On October 18, Peng Shaohui’s legion met with representatives of the renowned model Fifth Regiment of the First Front Army on the march. This model Fifth Regiment was a spearhead dispatched by the Fifth Regiment of the First Division of the First Front Army to join up with the Second Front Army. “As our forces joined up with the main forces, we all got high-spirited and felt so full of morale. Also, representatives of the Fifth Regiment brought many gifts to us. We were so happy for today’s union” (PHRC, 2016a, p. 349). To this day, October 22 has been commemorated as the anniversary of the victory of the Long March. In particular, there is a grand celebration every five years for its anniversary that ends with 0 or 5.

In addition to the abovementioned festivals and holidays, during the Long March, the CPC and the Red Army also commemorated or celebrated a number of “big days,” which echoed their respective fundamental roles as a proletarian party and as an army representing the interests of Chinese workers and peasants. These big days were to mark the establishment of the CPC (in July 1921), the May Thirtieth Movement (in 1925), the Guangzhou Uprising (on December 11, 1927), the Ningdu Uprising (on December 14, 1930), the October Revolution Day, as well as the birthdays of proletarian revolution mentors (Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, etc.).

Evidently, by commemorating or celebrating the “big days” of their own, the Red Army achieved self-improvement and found answers to a string of questions concerning “who I am,” “whom we are here for,” and “where we go from here.” Accordingly, they had their morale and fighting capacity significantly boosted, and their cultural and political identity markedly enhanced.

Conclusion

Lofty ideals can illuminate the future. The Red Army covered tens of thousands ofliacross a dozen provinces during the Long March. Their soldiers raced against the enemy’s aircraft and motor vehicles on foot. Most of the time, they were either marching on or fighting, and there were not many times when they could celebrate a festival or holiday at ease. During the Long March and in the midst of battle, the Red Army celebrated festivals and holidays whenever possible but had to skip some when the circumstances did not allow. Nevertheless, such celebration and non-celebration both highlighted the original intention of the CPC and the Red Army to serve the people. Tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers joined the “strategic shift” and traveled enormous distances in order to overthrow the old world and establish order and open up a new path to a better future. The Red Army soldiers made all those efforts and sacrifices for the happiness and peace of the Chinese people, enabling them to celebrate each and every festival or holiday properly. This paper tries to make a comprehensive and objective analysis of the Red Army soldiers, who overwhelmed all enemies without being overwhelmed by any, and who conquered all difficulties without being conquered by any. They never forgot the original intention while striving for a better future. The precious spiritual wealth left behind by the Red Army is and will always be our inexhaustible driving force to forge ahead. They have laid a solid foundation for the Chinese nation to stand rock-firm with a completely new image in the family of nations.