Celebratory Harmony．Bountiful Blessings

Programmes in January 2026

 

Programmes in February 2026

  

 

 

 

Programmes in January 2026

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Programmes in February 2026

 

Hong Kong is home to a vibrant array of traditional festival elements, such as lantern crafting, sticking hui chun (spring scrolls) and the Che Kung (General Che) Festival. During the Chinese New Year, people decorate with lanterns and festive ornaments, creating a joyful atmosphere that highlights the intricate craftsmanship of lantern crafting. In addition to admiring various lanterns, every household also puts up hui chun to express their hopes for the new year. Many worshippers also visit the Che Kung Temple to offer incense and spin windmills, to pray for smooth sailing and good fortune in the coming year.

 

This season, the "Meet the Masters!" series features the theme "Celebratory Harmony．Bountiful Blessings". Programmes of February 2026 will introduce lantern crafting, sticking hui chun (spring scrolls) and the Che Kung (General Che) Festival. The series aims to deepen participants' understanding of the local intangible cultural heritage.

 

 

Inheriting the Lanterns of Splendour: Talk and Demonstration on the Lantern Crafting Technique

Lanterns are commonly seen during the Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and celebratory lantern lighting rituals. Traditional lanterns use bamboo frameworks covered with paper or fabric, with candles or oil lamps serving as the light source.

 

This talk will outline the historical development and cultural significance of lantern-making, and its role in important festive occasions. The speaker will explain the main crafting process and technique, and also demonstrate some crafting steps.

 

 

 

Festive Joy in Chinese New Year Blessing: Talk on Sticking Hui Chun (Spring Scrolls)

Towards the end of the lunar year, households put up new hui chun to express their blessings and wishes for the new year. Many shops continue the custom of presenting hui chun to customers, conveying blessings and good wishes through auspicious phrases. In this age of mass printing, street stalls where calligraphers write hui chun on the spot can still be found in Hong Kong. Handwritten hui chun is a practice that remains widely cherished by the public.

 

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, this talk will introduce the historical development of hui chun sticking and its cultural significance in our society. The speaker will also demonstrate how to write hui chun in different types of layouts, as well as the content and calligraphy.

 

 

 

Windmill Spinning: Talk on the Che Kung (General Che) Festival

Every year on the second day of the Chinese New Year, worshippers visit the Ho Chung Che Kung Temple in Sai Kung and the Sha Tin Che Kung Temple to worship the deity, spin windmills, and beat drums, praying for smooth sailing and good fortune in the coming year.

 

This talk will introduce the historical legends, rituals, and cultural significance of the Che Kung (General Che) Festival, and explain the relationship between the Ho Chung Che Kung Temple in Sai Kung, the Sha Tin Che Kung Temple, and the Che Kung (General Che) Festival, enhancing participants' understanding of 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/.