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Hong Kong has a long list of festivals based on lunar calendar that are celebrated all through the year. Most of the festivals have their origin in the Chinese philosophy and beliefs.
Lunar New Year – February 18 |
The most popular legend surrounding the origin of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, revolves around the great beast called Nian. In Mandarin Chinese, ‘nian’ means ‘year’. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Nian, whose mouth was huge enough to swallow an entire human being, would prey on human beings. Everyone was terrified of the beast. One day, an elderly man appeared and offered to subdue the monster.
The old man challenged Nian to prey on other beasts who are more worthy opponents rather than human beings felt challenged, Nian swallowed other predators, thereby ridding people of the dangers of other predators to themselves and their livestock. The old man later revealed himself to be the god. Before riding off on the back of the now-tamed Nian, the old man advised the people to put up red paper decorations on their windows and doors, light torches and set off firecrackers at the end of each year. This would frighten Nian away should he try to return, for he was afraid of the red color, firelight and loud noises.
Since then, Chinese hold red to be a color of happiness and good fortune and firecrackers are lit to ward off evil spirits. This year the celebrations run from 12 to 21 February 2007.
Birthday of Che Kung – February 19
Che Kung was a general in the Sung Dynasty. He was worshipped as the Taoist deity for saving the people of Sha Tin Valley in the New Territories from a plague. Every year, on the 2nd or 3rd day of the Lunar New Year, people visit his temple to wish him a happy birthday. The temple, which lies near the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Sha Tin Racecourse, has been renovated and is a popular place of worship.
Spring Lantern Festival – March 4
Also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day, the Spring Lantern Festival is celebrated to mark the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Several places such as flower markets, restaurants, homes and parks are decorated with the colorful lanterns in traditional designs. During the festival, unmarried people assemble to play matchmaking games with the lanterns, to determine who will be their lover. The festival is marked by special evening celebrations in Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island, Ko Shan Road Park in Kowloon and Central Park in Sha Tin, organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Ching Ming Festival (Third Moon) – April 5
Also known as the Festival of Pure Brightness, Grave Sweeping or Spring Remembrance, Ching Ming (Clear and Bright) is an ancient form of ancestor worship. Families sweep graves, clean the headstones, re-paint inscriptions, put flowers and light incense on the graves of their ancestors. Imitation paper money, known as Hell Money, is burned so that their ancestors can use them. Families also offer foodstuff like fruit, rice, dim sum, chicken and pork and place 3 sets of chopsticks and 3 cups of wine above the food. Ching Ming is a time of communion, when families seek blessings from previous generations.
Birthday of Tin Hau – May 9
Tin Hau's birthday is celebrated to bring safety, security, fine weather and full nets during the coming year. The seafarers on boats with colorful ribbons visit the Tin Hau temples in different districts in Hong Kong praising the goddess for past protection and praying for future luck. Boats are adorned with symbols of devotion and filled with offerings for the goddess. The festival culminates in a procession, which is characterized by floral paper offerings known as Fa Pau. Every year Joss House Bay, in Sai Kung, hosts a vivid celebration, where traditional rites are observed at the temple. In Yuen Long, in the New Territories, a parade takes place with lion dances.
Birthday of Lord Buddha (Fourth Moon) – May 24
The birthday of Lord Buddha is a revered festival in the Buddhist temples of Hong Kong. The worshippers show their devotion by bathing Buddha's statue throughout the day. One of the major celebrations can be witnessed at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, home to the world's largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha. Besides, one can enjoy the sumptuous Chinese vegetarian cuisine at Po Lin Monastery, observe the ceremonies at Miu Fat Monastery in Tuen Mun in the New Territories.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival – May 24
Every year, the Bun Festival is celebrated for almost a week in the Cheung Chau island of Hong Kong. Huge bamboo towers studded with white Chinese bun and effigies of three gods dominate the grounds near the Pak Tai Temple. A large, colorful street procession featuring costumed children on passes through the streets. This ritual was abandoned in 1978, but was resumed again.
Birthday of Tam Kung – May 24
The birthday festival of Tam Yam is celebrated with considerable devotion and fanfare at the Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island. The temple dates back to 1905. The seafarers celebrate this occasion in order to secure safety and good luck for the coming year.
Dragon Boat Festival (Fifth Moon) – June 19
Also known as the Tuen Ng Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of a popular Chinese national hero, Qu Yuan. He had drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against the corrupt rulers. Legend says that as townspeople attempted to rescue him, they beat drums to scare fish away and threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body.
The real highlight of the festival is the fierce dragon boats racing where the teams compete in the elaborately decorated dragon boats. The special boats, which measure more than 10m, have ornately carved and painted dragon heads and tails and each carries a crew of 20-22 paddlers. People eat rice-and-meat dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and many look forward to swimming or even simply dipping their hands in the water.
Birthday of Kwan Tai (or Kwan Daaih) (Sixth Moon) – August 6
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Kwan Tai was the God of Wa and also an historical figure from the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-265). He was later deified as a Taoist symbol of integrity and loyalty. An ever-burning lamp is in front of his statue in the colorful mid-19th century Man Mo Temple on Hong Kong Island's Hollywood Road. The temple means the "Civil and Martial" and is dedicated jointly to Kwan Tai and to the God of Literature. |
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Seven Sisters Festival (Seventh Moon) – August 19
The Seven Sisters Festival finds its origin in the Chinese folklore dating back to more than 1,500 years. The legend says that a weaver maid with six older sisters, led a lonely life working at her loom throughout the year. Her father, the Heavenly Emperor, felt sorry for her and allowed her to marry a cow herder from across the Milky Way. After the wedding, she neglected her weaving duties and the Emperor ordered her to return home and visit her husband only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh moon.
The celebrations centre on religious rites and feature needlework competitions. As part of the worship, young women make offerings to the night sky and the two stars that represent the cow herder and the maid. They usually present fruit and burn joss sticks and incense at the Lovers' Stone on Bowen Road in Wan Chai.
Hungry Ghosts Festival (Yue Laan) – August 26
The Hungry Ghosts Festival is celebrated during the entire lunar month. The Chinese believe that the gates of Hell are opened up to free the hungry ghosts that wander the earth in search of food. Some also believe that ghosts will seek revenge on those who have wronged them in life.
In remembrance of the dead, the families burn joss sticks and offer food to appease them, in order to prevent bad luck. Other tribute offerings include burning colorful paper objects such as houses, cars, television sets and even mobile phones, in the belief that these items will help the ghosts live comfortably in the afterworld. In some places, shows or concerts are organized in the neighborhoods at night so that the ghosts might be entertained. 15 days after the beginning of the festival, it is believed the ghosts return to their points of origin and the festival ends.
Mid-Autumn Festival (Eighth Moon) – September 25
Every year, on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate the Lunar New Year, the biggest event of the year. It is a time of reunions, where families get together to feast and snack on moon cakes. The moon cakes symbolizes the full moon and the most famous legend associated with it dates back to 1368AD. In the 14th century, China had been overrun by the Mongols. The Chinese used moon cakes to hide messages with plans for the rebellion. The Mongols, who did not eat moon cakes, were unaware of the subterfuge. Families were told to eat the cakes on the day of the festival when the revolt occurred.
A traditional moon cake is filled with lotus seed paste with a salty egg yolk in the center, which represents the moon, but they are now made with many different fillings. They are very high in calories, and therefore are usually cut into quarters to be shared.
Monkey God Festival - September 26
The Monkey God was an outcast from the Taoist heaven. He redeemed himself and became immortal by escorting Tang Gan Zang on his pilgrimage to the West to obtain the teachings of Lord Buddha. During the festival held at his temple in Sau Mau Ping in Kowloon, a possessed person who acts as a medium runs barefoot over fiery charcoal and climbs a ladder made of knives to recreate the trials endured by the Monkey God as other gods attempted to execute him. However, this practice has ceased and today people celebrate the Monkey God’s birthday by burning incense and paper offerings as tribute to the deity.
Birthday of Confucius – October 7
K'ung Fu-tze or Confucius was one of the most influential Chinese philosophers. He preached self-attainment through the Five Virtues, viz. Charity, Justice, Propriety, Wisdom and Loyalty.
Winter Solstice Festival (Tenth Moon) – December 22
Dung Ji is the shortest day of the year and second most important festival in Hong Kong. Traditionally, it is the time when fishermen and farmers collect food to prepare for the coming winter. It is also an important time of family reunions. People wear new clothes, visit family and eat and drink in celebration of new optimism. This festival has its origin in the Chinese ph
