Tai O
in Our Eyes
Other Traditional Festivals for the Birth of the Gods
Tai O is a place keeps the traditional well in Hong Kong. Tai O enjoys year-round traditional celebrations. There are serval traditional festivals to cerabrite the birthday of the Gods. Having a series of celebrations are the traditions in Tai O.
Birthday of Tin Hau
(23rd Day of 3rd Lunar Month)
Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Sea, is believed to have been able to forecast the weather and save people from shipwrecks. Fishermen visit temples making offerings and hold a variety of celebrations asking for safety, fine weather and full nets. People in the Tai O fishing village adorn their boats with colorful ribbons.
Birthday of Lord Buddha
(8th Day of 4th Lunar Month)
One of the most spiritual and unique festivals celebrated in Buddhism is the birthday of Lord Buddha, also called the Bathing Buddha Festival. At Buddhist temples all over the territory, devotees gather to pay their respect to this revered deity with a 'Bathing the Buddha' ceremony.
Tai O people take part in a unique bathing ritual believed to aid in the purification of one's soul. Another ritual involves eating bitter green cookies with the significance that once you have eaten something bitter, better things are to follow.
Birthday of Hau Wong
(6th Day of 6th Lunar Month)
Hau Wong refers to Yeung Leung-Jit, a loyal and courageous general in the Southern Song Dynasty. Despite his failing health, he remained in the army to protect the last emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty when he took refuge to the south in Kowloon.
Each year residents of the Tai O fishing village have a lively celebration for the birth of Hau Wong with the performance of Cantonese opera. A temporary bridge is built between the temple and the opera especially for the Hau Wong god to cross the river.
Birthday of Guanyin
(19th Day of 6th Lunar Month)
The nineteenth day of the sixth month of the lunar year is the birthday of Guanyin. On that day, believers burn joss sticks and some offer oil for Guanyin's ever-burning lamp and pray for health and peace. The places of worship are solemn and grand. Incense and flowers are also offered to Guanyin by the Tai O People.
Birthday of Hung Shing (11th Day of 7th Lunar Month)
Hung Shing was a government official named Hung Hei during the Tang dynasty. A governor of Panyu, he was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography and helped merchants and fishermen with his ability to forecast the weather. Legend has it that Hung Shing continued to guard the people against natural disasters even after his death.
Enjoying the year-round traditional celebrations in Tai O is the triditional lifestyle for the local people. It is not just only about the celebrations, the traditional festivals are also playing the special role to connect the Tai O residents together. If there is no traditions, we are one one. The traditions make the people into groups and have the similar traditional lifestle. From the traditions, we can see the whole Tai O.