May 4th Youth Day

Name : Chinese Youth Day
Date : May 4th
Chinese Youth Day comes from the May 4th Movement, the well-known anti-imperialistic and patriotic movement which took place in China in 1919.
After World War U. K. France U. S., Japan, Italy and some other countries held a "Peace Conference" in Paris in 1919. Chinese Government of that time also sent some representatives for the conference, and demanded that the imperial countries should abandon their privilege in China, Japan should cancel the"21 items," an unequal treaty imposed by Japan, and China take back its sovereignty over Shandong which was occupied by Germany before the War and by Japan during the War. "Paris Conference" unfairly refused the reasonable request that China asked to abolish the unequal treat, and even decided to transfer the Germany's illegal privileges in Shandong Province to Japan. When the news passed back to China, the whole country got angry. On May 4th, about 3, 000 students from various universities in Beijing congregated at Tian'anmen Square and held a student protest parade for the first time in the history. But the movement was suppressed by the warlord government of that time.
This suppression made angrier the people al over the country. A great number of students, workers and businessmen went on strike, and the students demonstration and parade finally developed into a national-scale anti-imperialistic and patriotic movement.
The May 4th Movement is a landmark event in Chinese history. It is not only a patriotic student movement, but also a new cultural movement with the characteristic of democracy and science against feudal culture. It was due to the influence of May 4th Movement that science, democracy and the usage of modern Chinese language were greatly advocated later.
The May 4th Movement has reflected the strong will of Chinese people for safeguarding national independence and striving for democracy and freedom. In order to inherit and develop the spirit of patriotism, democracy and science of the May 4th Movement, the central government (the State Council) formally claimed in 1949 that May 4th would be Chinese Youth Day. On this festival, a variety of celebrations are held al over the country, such as gatherings, volunteer activities, social practices and some ceremonies for being an adult. On Youth Day, al the youths above 14 years old in the country have a half day holiday.