Hong Kong Celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with
the Dazzling Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
(Hong Kong, 17 September 2018) The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of Hong Kongs most celebrated festivals, is fast approaching on 24 September (the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese Lunar Calendar). Said to have evolved from a moon-worshipping ceremony ahead of the autumn harvest, the festival provides a peek inside Hong Kongs long-held traditions.
During this annual festival, visitors will witness the city coming alive, as the century-old Fire Dragon Dance swirls through Tai Hang, lanterns illuminate the sky, and Australian artist Amanda Parers ethereal Moon Rabbit Lumiere installation hops through the city for the first time. Heres a guide to the rituals, events, and art installations across Hong Kong.
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance (23 – 25 September 2018)
Paying tribute to the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations of old, Tai Hang residents gather to take part in the three-day Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. People from across the city head to the dance to enjoy the roaring festivities, which were inscribed on Chinas National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.
The tradition is thought to have emerged in the 19th century, following a typhoon and a plague that devastated Tai Hang. By parading a fierce dragon through the streets, the villagers believed they could ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Today, the experience promises an explosion of drums, gongs and incense, as nearly 300 trained participants carry a 67-metre dragon covered in glowing joss sticks through the streets. The first thing youll notice as the dragon flies by is its 70-kilogramme head, made of sheet metal, straw and rattan, with two electric torches for eyes – thats a face youll never forget!
Mooncakes
Mooncakes are one of the most popular elements of Hong Kongs Mid-Autumn Festival, and for good reason. Baked in intricate moulds featuring auspicious Chinese blessings, mooncakes are associated with family – the round shape is thought to symbolise completeness – and its common to give these dense treats to loved ones during the festival to wish them a long, happy life.
걸 ¿ 32 20-1 |(۷ι ) ǥȭ : (02) 790 - 0669 | Ϲȣ : 106 - 13 - 34583
¿ () ۱ǹ ȣ մϴ. Copyright(C) itaewonnews.com. All Rights Reserved. Please read itaewonnews's privacy policy.
Contact us for more information. webmaster@itaewonnews.com