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Hong Kong Holidays/ Festivals 2018
2015 Calendar below for reference
The first day of January 1 Jan
Chinese New Year of the Goat 19 Feb
The second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year

Che Kung's Birthday

20 Feb
The third day of the Lunar New Year 21 Feb
Spring Lantern Festival / Yuen Siu 5 Mar
Chinese Groundhog Day 6 Mar
Ching Ming Festival 5 Apr
The day following Ching Ming Festival 6 Apr
Good Friday 3 Apr
The day following Good Friday 4 Apr
Easter Monday 6 Apr
Labour Day 1 May
Birthday of Tin Hau 11 May
Buddha’s Birthday and Cheung Chau Bun Festival

also Tam Kung's Birthday

25 May
Tuen Ng /  Dragon Boat Festival 20 Jun
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day 1 July
Kwan Tai / Kwan Gon's Birthday 8 Aug
Seventh Goddess' Day / Tsat-je 20 Aug
Chinese Ghosts Festival / Yue Lan 27 Aug
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival / Moon Festival 27 Sep
Day after Mid-Autumn Festival

Monkey King Festival

28 Sep
Confucius' Birthday/Teacher's Day 9 Oct
Chinese National Day 1 Oct
Chung Yeung Festival  
Winter Solstice 22 Dec
Christmas Day 25 Dec
Boxing Day 26 Dec

 

Hong Kong Festivals 2016
Hong Kong Festivals 2017

   

 

 

Chinese Culture in Hong Kong

Restaurant Opening Ceremony

The Chinese dim sum restaurant we used to go to a lot closed down a few months ago because their landlord has demanded more rent than they can afford.  Since then, every time I bumped into the restaurant owner on Cheung Chau I asked "Where's my dim sum?" and he always said "we are still looking" or "we are still negotiating".  Suddenly a month ago, I saw two premises were being renovated - his restaurant is back.

On 2nd February Golden Crown Restaurant is officially opened.  We went at lunch time to see the new restaurant.  The boss was busily greeting and nodding to all the old customers while the Fung Shui expert was giving instructions to him about what's required for the opening ceremony.

Worship the god - Kwan Gon

Chinese dim sum restaurant starts very early in the morning.  The kitchen starts working at 2 or 3am because most dim sum restaurants open at 6am for the loyal retired old customers.  I was still in bed at 6am so I don't know if there is any ribbon cutting ceremony in the morning but I happened to see the Kwan Gon worshipping ceremony in the afternoon.

In the restaurant, there is an altar for Kwan Gon (God of Justice) and underneath Kwan Gon is the God of Earth.  In front of these two gods is a table full of offerings like roasted suckling pig, a steamed chicken, a pair of deep fried fish, 3 Chinese wine in brass cups, joss sticks in pot and pieces of paper full of charm. The Fung Shui expert also asked for some fruits (not for himself, of course) for the offering.  When everything is ready, the boss gathered other partners to start worshipping.

To start with, there is a basin on the floor where the paper with charms on is burned. Then everyone takes turn to pick up some joss sticks, half-bow to Kwan-gon's statue for 3 times and put the joss sticks into the pot (which is full of tightly packed fine ashes) on the table. 

After the offering of joss sticks, the roasted pig is cut up and share by the people involved.  That's the end of the ceremony.

Normally, I will expect a lion dance outside the restaurant and then move in to the restaurant and bow to Kwan Gon.  Maybe I have missed in it the morning.

 

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