Hong Kong Festivals and Public Holidays

Hong Kong Festivals are major events on a scale hardly understood in the West. During Chinese New Year festivities, there is total disruption of everyday life.

Spring Festival is the most important festival in the year for the Chinese, when families get together and share a sumptuous meal on the eve of the Chinese new year.

Homes are festooned with banners and pictures to bring good fortune. Other activities associated with the festival include the lion dance, the dragon-lantern dance and stilt walking.

The following is a selection of Hong Kong Festivals 2005:

2005

Jan 1
New Year’s Day

New Year is celebrated in all hotels, restaurants and other places. The whole city is also deck with decorations, from Christmas decor, to New Year decor, and finally to Chinese New Year decor. Three events, one after the other.

Jan 22-23
Dragon Dance and Lion Dance Championships

Feb 9
Chinese New Year Night Parade.

It is one of the most important and colourful Chinese Hong Kong Festivals celebrated by the majority of the local population, where shops, offices, factories close for this traditional holiday.

During ten days of the festival there are a huge number of events celebrating the New Year. The long dragon and lions dance on the streets, crowds visit the temples, lanterns, flowers and entertainment comes alive in the most important squares of the city.

It is also a tradition, when people visit and greet each other with two joined hands closed, saying "Kung Hei Fat Choi" and offering "Lai Si" (red pockets) containing money, which is a way to wish good luck and prosperity throughout the year to friends and relatives.

Feb 10
Lunar New Year Fireworks Display

15th day of the First Moon is the Lanterns Festival, being equally the Valentine's Days in the Chinese tradition. At night, the celebrations continue with colorful lanterns placed around. Small balls of glutinous rice is prepared as dessert, for homophonic reasons and symbolizes the "ribbon of friendship", "family reunion" or "good luck" for the Chinese.

Feb 17-Mar 20
Hong Kong Arts Festival

Mar 11-20
Hong Kong Flower Show

Mar 18-20
International Rugby World Cup Sevens

Mar 25
Good Friday

Mar 28
Easter Monday

A very important festival especially among the Christian community. Many shops sell sweets related to this festival, as chocolates, egg cake, etc.

Apr 5
Ching Ming Festival

Falling on the 106th day after the Winter Solstice, Ching Ming is a family affair among the Hong Kong Festivals. It is the day when relatives flock to their ancestors' graves. They tidy the tombstones and arrange fresh flowers and three glasses of wine before them. They burn joss sticks and paper objects, in the belief that the dead will receive these "the other side".

Paper cars, money, mahjong sets, even cellular phones go up in smoke. The families also present roast piglets, fruit and other food to the deceased but that doesn't go to waste. The day usually ends with a family feast.

May 1
Labour Day &
Tin Hau Festival

May 15
Lord Buddha’s Birthday

Jun 11
Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival

This old Chinese festival is to commemorate the heroic poet Wat Yuen who protested against corruption by drowning himself.

Today all celebrations are concentrated on the famous Dragon Boat Races. Many local teams and foreign teams take part in this colourful event.

Jul 1
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Aug 11
Seven Sisters Festival

Sept 18
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival; Moon Festival

Aug 19
Hungry Ghosts Festival

In order to appease the ancestors' souls and all the forgotten spirits, people make small models in paper of objects, and burn it all with incense on the pavements of the streets or at the entrance door of their houses. They worship the gods to protect those beloved ones and for that prepare dishes of meat and fruits.

Oct 1
National Day.

Oct 11
Chung Yeung Festival

Also known as the Festival of Ascending Heights, celebrated by the Chinese, when many people climb hills after offering prayers at family graves.

Dec 25
Christmas Day.

Dec 26
Boxing Day.