Celebratory Harmony．Bountiful Blessings

Hong Kong is home to a vibrant array of traditional festivals. Through diverse customs, rituals, and celebrations, people express their respect for ancestors and deities, and convey their wishes for peace and prosperity. By organising and participating in these festivals, community members strengthen bonds, preserve social cohesion, and pass on traditional culture from generation to generation.

 

This season, the "Meet the Masters!" series under the theme "Celebratory Harmony．Bountiful Blessings", will explore several traditional festivals and practices, including Spring and Autumn Ancestral Worship of Clans, the Jiao Festival, the Tin Hau Festival, and the Kwun Yum (Goddess of Mercy) Treasury Opening Festival. The series aims to deepen participants' understanding of these local traditional festivals and their related intangible cultural heritage.

 

 

 

 

Programmes in January 2026

 

Three Sacrificial Offerings and Wine Ceremony: Talk of the Spring and Autumn Ancestral Worship of Clans

The Spring and Autumn Ancestral Worship of Clans is a traditional custom still faithfully observed by many founding clans in Hong Kong's New Territories. Every year during spring and (or) autumn equinox or the fourth and ninth lunar month every year—clan members prepare three sacrificial offerings and wine, gathering either at ancestral halls or visiting hilltop ancestral graves to express filial piety and pay tribute to their ancestors.

 

This talk will share the key steps and stories of the Spring and Autumn Ancestral Worship of Clans. It will also feature a demonstration of selected rituals and explore the role of lineage clans in cultural inheritance.

 

 

 

Gratitude for Homeland: Talk of Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival

The Jiao Festival is also known as "Da Chiu". The aim is to express gratitude to the deities for their blessings and for helping to keep peace in the area. The festival is held at different intervals in different places. Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival in Yuen Long, which originated in the Qing dynasty, is a grand religious event held every ten years by the Tang Clan of Kam Tin in the New Territories to express gratitude to the deities Chou (Zhou You-de) Wong (Wang Lai-ren) Yi Kung for their divine benevolence. The festival brings together several elements of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage.

 

Marking its 34th iteration in December of 2025, this talk will review the festival, explore the ritual's historical origins, ceremonial practices, and social significance. The speaker will also share the experience and insights of organising the Jiao Festival.

 

 

 

Jiao Inheritance: Talk of Tai Po Lam Tsuen Heung Jiao Festival

Since the construction of the Tin Hau Temple during the Qianlong era, Lam Tsuen Heung in Tai Po has established the tradition of holding the Jiao Festival once every ten years. It has lasted for over two centuries since then. Although termed "once every ten years", the event is actually held at nine-year intervals. In December 2026, Lam Tsuen Heung will again celebrate the festival. During the Jiao Festival, villagers are prohibited from cutting trees and killing animals, and the entire community practices abstinence and ritual purification. Taoist priests are invited to recite scriptures and offer prayers for blessings, expressing gratitude to the deities. The community also makes food offerings to wandering spirits and performs Cantonese opera to delight both gods and humans, praying for harmony, good weather, and peace for all.

 

This talk will illustrate the historical origins, ceremonial practices and cultural significance of the Tai Po Lam Tsuen Heung Jiao Festival. It will also introduce the preparation of Jiao Festival and share the experiences and stories on passing on the tradition and intangible cultural heritage.

 

 

 

Voyage of Blessing: Talk of the Tin Hau Festival in Leung Shuen Wan, Sai Kung

The Sai Kung Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Festival is divided into two scales, a "big festival" in even-numbered years and a "small festival" in odd-numbered years. During the "big festival", the Temple Management Committee holds the Jiao Festival and Tin Hau Festival from the 19th to the 24th day of the third lunar month, all to express gratitude to the goddess Tin Hau for her protection, and pray for favorable weather and maritime safety. The event features performances of Cantonese opera, as well as a series of traditional ceremonies such as submission of petitions, altar inaugurations, processions, and offerings to wandering spirits. There is also the sea parade for Tin Hau, which is a major feature of this festival.

 

The Tin Hau Festival will be held in May 2026. This talk aims to introduce the origins and development of the celebratory rituals, its cultural significance and inheritance.

 

 

 

The Mercy of Kwun Yum: Talk of the Kwun Yum (Goddess of Mercy) Treasury Opening Festival

Legend has it that the 26th day of the first lunar month is the day that Kwun Yum (Goddess of Mercy) opens her treasury. Worshippers bring with them offerings, including paper clothing offerings to Kwun Yum, wishing placard and joss paper, and visit Kwun Yum Temples. After praying to Kwun Yum for blessings and wealth, worshippers proceed to pick up a red packet with a number or auspicious words in it. The ritual is known as "Borrowing from the Treasury". They will return the borrowed amount before the Treasury Opening Festival of the following year.

 

This talk will introduce the folk rituals, historical origins and cultural significance of the Kwun Yum Treasury Opening, as well as its relationship with the folk belief of Kwun Yum and the local community. Participants can thus learn more about this intangible cultural heritage item.

 

 

Remark: The above programmes may be subject to change or cancellation. Please take note of our update.

 

The above programmes are also the activities of the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit https://www.ccpo.gov.hk/en/.