The Ghost Festival
The Ghost Festival which falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in Asian countries.
Ghosts and restless spirits, including deceased ancestors, will come out from the lower realm during the festival. Activities for the Ghost Festival includes preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense and joss paper, and burning faux money and other offerings such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for ghosts and ancestors to use in the afterlife.
Elaborate meals, which are often vegetarian meals, are served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family, treating the deceased as if they are still living.
Villain hitting
Villain hitting is a folk sorcery popular in the Guangdong area of China and Hong Kong. Its purpose is to curse one's enemies using magic. Ceremonies are performed by old ladies and it is often considered a humble career.
Villain hitting is often done in gloomy places such as somewhere under an overpass. In Hong Kong, the Canal Road Flyover between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai is a popular place where people do villain hitting throughout the year. Villain hitting was selected as "Best Way to Get It Off Your Chest" in the TIME magazine's 2009 "Best of Asia" feature.
Bun snatching
Bun snatching is an annual traditional competition, held during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Young men and women race to the top of the bun tower to snatch as many buns as they can. It is believed that the higher the bun is located, the more fortune it brings to the holder's family.
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has been held for more than 100 years. Villagers in Tai Hang performed the fire dragon dance for three days every year to bless themselves and to stop bad luck from afflicting their village.
The commemorative performance wends its way in fire, smoke and festive fury. It has even danced its way onto the China’s third national list of intangible cultural heritage.
Hong Kong Traditions
