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

Sometimes referred to as the Lovers' Festival, it falls on the seventh day of the seventh moon on the lunar calendar and has deep meaning for unmarried women. The festival celebrates the only day in the year when the legendary Heavenly Weaver can meet her lover, the Cowherd, over a bridge of birds spanning the Milky Way.

MID-AUTUMN OR MOON Macau FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. Festive vibes permeate the town where main streets are decorated with colorful lanterns to welcome the Festival. As one of the most-celebrated festivities in Chinese culture and so in Macao, the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes a time for family reunion. Locals enjoy eating mooncakes and offer this sweet pastry as a gift to relatives and friends as a tradition for this occasion.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather for a joyful dinner followed by a night out admiring the beautiful full moon. People make especial lunar cakes, which they offer, to each other in familiar and friends visits. The preparation of the cakes requires the eggs and the ingredients to be energetically shaken. Afterwards they may enjoy a picnic in garden, by the lake or beach, having mooncakes and fruits in season under the moonlight while children play around with glittery lanterns in hand. 

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC MACAU FESTIVAL - OCTOBER

This is a Festival that every year brings to Macau some of the finest orchestras, singers, choirs and music players. The programme contemplates both the Western and the Chinese classical and modern music. The climax is traditionally the performance of an opera.

The concerts and recitals take place all over the Territory in the baroque churches, in the Chinese pavilions, in the gardens and in the Auditoria of the Cultural Centre.

MACAU GRAND PRIX - NOVEMBER

The Grand Prix is one of the worlds most exiting car and motorcycle races using a city circuit - the Guia Circuit. It is probably the most internationally known event produced in Macau, because of its quality and of its history of five decades. 

The three headline races are the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinential Cup, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 44th Edition, and the FIA World Touring Car Championship – Guia Race of Macau.

The Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, which is the official FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup, was first held in 1983 and won by the late, great Ayrton Senna, while F1 icon Michael Schumacher also won in this race.

The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, too, is considered one of the most challenging road races in the world and is now entering its 43rd year on the narrow 6.2km Guia circuit.

FIA World Touring Car ChampionshiFIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC) races for the fifth consecutive year, and once again holds its final nail-biting round in Macau. Only a few events are authorised to carry the 'FIA World Championship' title and many top drivers annually converge on Macau from all over the world to try their luck.

Additionally there are five Macau Grand Prix Support Races: The Macau GT Cup, Macau Road Sport Challenge, CTM Macau Touring Car Race, Hotel Fortuna MAC/HKG Interport Race, and Formula BMW Pacific.

MACAU INTERNATIONAL MARATHON - DECEMBER

This international marathon, first hosted by Macao in 1981, continues to attract large numbers of local and international long distance runners. The full course Marathon includes the Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane, while the Half-Marathon and Mini-Marathon are designed to attract not only professional athletes but amateurs seeking to test their endurance.

CHRISTMAS MACAU FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS - 25TH DECEMBER 

Macau used to be colonies of western countries, so they are more influenced by western culture and people there enjoy Christmas holidays. Macau residents have December 24 and 25 off. Many shopping centers are decorated from the middle of November. Sparkling decorations and tinsel-strewn Christmas trees are all-around town, signaling that the joyful Christmas season is just around the corner. On the night of December 24, many local youth come out to appreciate the dazzling lights or join the various parties.