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The Mid Autumn festival has been celebrated since the Tang dynasty. The festival symbolizes togetherness and renunciation as it allows relatives and friends that lives far away to gather together. Mid Autumn Festival is still widely celebrated and mooncakes are the most iconic symbol of the festival.
Mooncakes originated in Yuan dynasty and traditionally, their fillings include egg yolk and lotus seed paste. In Hong Kong, there is much more of a variety. Not only is there traditional mooncakes, there are also snowy mooncakes, ice-cream mooncakes and etc. Snowy mooncakes are basically mochi but shaped like a mooncake, it is extremely popular. It does not involve any baking and uses vegetable oil which is said to be more healthy. Another reason that it has become so popular is the variety of fillings. From chocolate to mango, it has every flavor that you can imagine, there is always one flavor that is suits your pallet! Combining the concept of reunion and family with western culinary techniques is the perfect way to explain how Hong Kong balanced western influences with it's eastern roots and culture.
There are handful of places you could go to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival. One of them would be the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. It is also part of China’s third national list of intangible cultural heritage. The dance was originally in hope to fight off diseases, however they kept this tradition ever since. Every year, with the company of drums and firecrackers, they will dance and wave an enormous dragon that is covered in burning incense sticks for three nights in a row.
Another place worth a visit would be the lantern carnival held in Victoria Park. The lanterns under showcase are all very large in size and extremely creative. What a great way to take part in such an important and traditional festival, a definite must-go!
There are handful of places you could go to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival. One of them would be the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. It is also part of China’s third national list of intangible cultural heritage. The dance was originally in hope to fight off diseases, however they kept this tradition ever since. Every year, with the company of drums and firecrackers, they will dance and wave an enormous dragon that is covered in burning incense sticks for three nights in a row.
Another place worth a visit would be the lantern carnival held in Victoria Park. The lanterns under showcase are all very large in size and extremely creative. What a great way to take part in such an important and traditional festival, a definite must-go!
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance:
Exit A1, Tin Hau Station. Cross King's Road and make a right turn. Walk straight until the second junction on the left and enter Tung Lo Wan Road.
Note: The dance only takes place three nights per year (the day before Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid Autumn Festival and the day after)
Lantern exhibition:
Exit E, Causeway Bay Station. Walk along Great George Street until you reach the park.
Exit A1, Tin Hau Station. Cross King's Road and make a right turn. Walk straight until the second junction on the left and enter Tung Lo Wan Road.
Note: The dance only takes place three nights per year (the day before Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid Autumn Festival and the day after)
Lantern exhibition:
Exit E, Causeway Bay Station. Walk along Great George Street until you reach the park.