- Preparation for the holiday
- Where to celebrate a holiday according to the European calendar
- How Hong Kong celebrates a holiday according to the Eastern calendar
- history of the holiday
- New Year's menu
- What do they give for the holiday
Hong Kong is a miniature state that combines a unique culture and layering of diverse cultures. Therefore, the New Year is celebrated here in a special way. In accordance with the calendar cycle, the celebration is celebrated twice a year. From December 31 to January 1, Gregorian New Year is celebrated, and the Spring Festival falls on the end of January or the first mid-February.
Preparation for the holiday
As for the European New Year, it is celebrated more modestly than the Eastern one. However, the organization of the holiday is under the control of local authorities and begins earlier than the significant date. Due to the fact that Hong Kong is a very popular destination among tourists from all countries, preparation includes several stages:
- installing fir trees and decorating streets with original compositions on New Year's themes;
- organization of a laser show on the central square;
- preparation of a festive program taking place on New Year's Eve on the coast of Victoria Bay;
- decoration of hotels and hotels that meet foreign tourists.
One of the latest trends in the European New Years in Hong Kong is that most of the major supermarkets are hosting large-scale sales. In the last week of December in stores you can buy a lot of useful and unusual goods at a reduced cost.
Where to celebrate a holiday according to the European calendar
Tourists who decide to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong should first think about buying tickets, since this direction is quite in demand. Among the wide variety of places where you will be invited to meet the celebration, you can note:
- Tsim Sha Tsui embankment;
- Times Square;
- observation deck near Victoria Bay;
- Sathinh Park;
- Lankuyfon area.
This list is complemented by luxury hotels, spas, luxury yachts, etc. The choice, of course, depends on your individual preferences and financial capabilities. So, the Lankuyfon district is more suitable for young people, in which many parties are held on New Year's with the participation of the best creative teams of the city. Fans of Chinese culture should go to Sathin Park, where an amazing action called "bamboo theater" unfolds the day before the New Year.
How Hong Kong celebrates a holiday according to the Eastern calendar
Without a doubt, the Chinese New Year is a priority among the rest of the holidays. For local residents, this is a special celebration saturated with long-standing traditions and rituals. Also, holidays last about two weeks and this is the only time of the year that is devoted to good rest.
Preparation begins long before the New Year, which includes important ritual stages. Firstly, houses and apartments are carefully cleaned, as this is associated with the ancient rite of cleansing the soul. Secondly, a variety of red products with gold ornaments appear on store shelves. The fact is that it is the red color, according to popular beliefs, that is the harbinger of happiness and prosperity in the New Year.
For two weeks, Hong Kong residents celebrate the holiday. Most of the mass events take place in the first week of the holiday. Among them is a grandiose parade, to which the beginning of a new annual cycle is timed. The parade is a large-scale procession along the central streets of the city, accompanied by artists dressed in masquerade costumes. The difference between the parade and other similar ones is that delegations from several countries take part in it.
history of the holiday
In Hong Kong, they are sensitive to Eastern mythology, so almost every Hong Kong resident knows the story of the emergence of the New Year. The mythological basis of the Spring Festival is rooted in the distant past and is associated with a legend.
The protagonist of the myth is a monster named Nian, which is translated from Chinese as "year". Many years ago, the monster came to homes and took away not only livestock, but also small children. Frightened people decided to put a lot of delicious food in front of the door on the first day of each new year to appease the terrible monster. When the monster came to the village again to pick up the children, it saw a boy dressed in red clothes and was frightened. After that, the residents realized what the monster was afraid of, and began to hang red lanterns in front of the entrance to the house.
Fireworks became additional protection for the dwelling, which the Chinese have used everywhere on New Year's Eve to this day. This serves as a kind of amulet against evil spirits and troubles.
New Year's menu
The cuisine of Hong Kong harmoniously combines the culinary traditions of Europe and Asia. Therefore, a variety of dishes are always present on the New Year's table. Among them, first of all, on the table you can see:
- dim sum stuffed with seafood or meat;
- hand-made egg noodles;
- char siru (pork chops in honey sauce);
- Peking duck;
- soup with crabs and shrimps;
- fish balls;
- buns with pineapple.
Hong Kong residents prefer local beer and spirits as spirits. Each housewife, as a rule, passes from generation to generation the peculiarities of preparing New Year's dishes. An obligatory custom of the New Year's feast is the use of dumplings at the beginning of the meal. The person who comes across a dumpling with a round pepper inside will be lucky for the next year.
What do they give for the holiday
Hong Kongers love to present their loved ones with pleasant gifts for the New Year. For a whole week, it is customary to visit guests and present gifts with a special meaning. It is customary for adults to give dishes, paintings, household items and engravings depicting hieroglyphs symbolizing wealth and peace of mind.
As for the children, they are always presented with red envelopes in which a small amount of money is put. Most often, money is accumulated for years, and then spent on a large purchase.
Cosmetic products, perfumes, subscriptions to beauty salons and sports centers are considered popular gifts for young people.
