Spring Festival: Taiwan’s most important festival is the Lunar New Year. This month-long extravaganza sees the whole nation take vacation, travel home and have lots of fun. At midnight on the full moon, fireworks blast evil spirits off the island. This is a noisy but fascinating time to be in Taiwan.

Festival of the God of Medicine: a unique procession happens on this day to honor the God of Medicine. A parade stretching for miles through Taipei consists of floats supporting legendary figures, deities, flowers and other wonderful images. It is the longest parade in Taiwan’s calendar and a real spectacle. Particularly amazing are the acrobats flipping around and a group of devotees who prostate themselves on the streets to drive out evil spirits.

Birthday of the Goddess of the Sea: one of Taiwan’s biggest festivals honors Matsu, the Goddess of the Sea. She is the patron deity of the island’s fishermen, so any coastal town or village will have elaborate and fun festivities on this day. Matsu is enshrined in about 300 temples around Taiwan, and visiting one on this day to witness the rituals can be an amazing experience.