Macau Festivals, Celebrations, Feasts And Events(Part I.)

With a 400-year history blending inhabitation of Chinese, Portuguese and other western cultures, Macau has all sorts of festivals and holidays. Traditional Chinese festivals, local folk and religious feasts and great international events and activities entertain travelers all year long. From Christian festivals to Chinese festivals and even the Filipino Pahiyas. Only in Macau!

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS - 1ST OF JANUARY

Macau New Year is celebrated in all hotels, restaurants and other places . The government regularly gives a free firework display at mid-night at the Nam Van Lakes. The whole city is also deck with decorations, from Christmas decor, to New Year decor, and finally to Chinese New Year decor. Three events, one after the other.

CHINESE NEW YEAR - END OF JANUARY; BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY; 1ST DAY OF THE FIRST MOON

In Macau, the Chinese New Year usually happens around th end of January; beginning of February; 1st day of the First Moon. Chinese New Year is the most important and colourful Chinese festival celebrated by the majority of the local population, where shops, offices, factories close for this traditional holiday.

During ten days there are a huge number of events celebrating the New Year. The long dragon and lions dance on the streets, crowds visit the temples, lanterns, flowers and entertainment comes alive in the most important squares of the city. Chinese New Year is also a tradition, when people visit and greet each other with two joined hands closed, saying "Kung Hei Fat Choi" and offering "Lai Si" (red pockets) containing money, which is a way to wish good luck and prosperity throughout the year to friends and relatives.

PROCESSION OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST - FEBRUARY / MARCH

A unique Macau religious celebration when an image of Christ carrying the Cross is taken in solemn procession from St. Augustine's Church to the Cathedral for an overnight vigil. It is then returned through the city via the stations of the Cross, accompanied by a magenta-robed escort and crowds of the faithful and curious.

From St Augustine Church the statue is taken to the Cathedral for a night. The following day, the figure is carried through the streets back to the cathedral. Stations of the Cross are set up along the route.

This event is attended by the clergy and hundreds of Chinese faithful and believers.

MACAU ARTS FESTIVAL - MARCH / APRIL

This festival is organized by the Cultural Institute and co-organized by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. It is the time when most of the cultural associations and institutes of Macau display their best shows.

Normally the programme include music concerts, dance, painting exhibitions, Chinese opera, theatre etc... It is an occasion when the cultural diversity of Macau comes to the stage. For specific information about the programme of this event please visit the following Internet address: www.icm.gov.mo/welcome

DRUNKEN DRAGON FESTIVAL - MAY / 8TH DAY 4TH MOON

This is a very strange festival if compared with the other major Chinese festivals. It dates from the misty past from the Kangxi Kingdom of the Qing Dynasty.

Praying to the Buddha for help against a disastrous plague, villagers were carrying his statue when suddenly a giant python leaped out of the river on to the bank, blocking the way.

A Buddhist monk slashed at the monster, cutting it into three pieces which were tossed into the river. The pieces writhed about and then, amid a great wind and thunder, they flew up into the sky.

Miraculously, the people recovered from the plague and the turf which has been stained with the creature's blood proved to be unusually fertile. Believing that they had been saved by a divine dragon, the people carved its image and at the annual festival when the Buddha is bathed they drank wildly and danced with the dragon.

The fishermen associations organize this festival, which start in the morning in the Kuan Tai Temple near S. Domingos Market (near Senado Square), where men perform a drunken dance with wooden heads and tails of a dragon.

Then, they go on the direction of the Inner Harbour and pay a visit some shops and piers on the waterfront. At each stop they drink wine until they are not able to go on. All the participants and observers end the day with a great dinner.

ST ANTHONY PROCESSION - FEASTDAY CELEBRATIONS - JUNE 13

The St. Anthony Procession is a very short procession held every year on the feastday of the Saint along the streets and park adjacent to the St. Anthony Church.

The feastday of St Anthony, Doctor of the Church, falls on June 13 according to the Catholic Year. The feastday/procession in the parish church is generally held on the Sunday of the week.

A series of activities are held before the procession. There are novenas, prayers, a solemn Mass, confessions, etc. It is a major event in the Macau Church so the Bishop generally comes to celebrate the Holy Mass.