Lunar New Year in Hong Kong - Niamh Mary McLaughlin
Published: 31 March 2023
Experiencing the Lunar New Year celebrations while studying abroad in Hong Kong
January 22nd, 2023 saw the start of the lunar year which is widely celebrated in South-East Asia. In Hong Kong, it is marked by a 15-day festival called the Spring Festival which is the biggest and most popular festival of the year.
The year of the rabbit began on Sunday, January 23rd which was the first of three days of statutory public holiday.
Harbour Light Show on the first day of the New Year
To celebrate the new year we headed to Tsim Sha Tsui for a lovely meal with flatmates and friends before heading to the harbour front to watch the 8 pm Symphony of Lights Show. The light show happens daily in Hong Kong however, despite living here for 5 months already I had never actually witnessed it so it was particularly special to see it for the first time as the Lunar New Year special featuring messages of hope and prosperity for the year of the rabbit.
After watching, we went to a nearby rooftop bar to toast in the year of the rabbit together and to join more friends. This location gave us spectacular views of the night-time skyline of Hong Kong Island along Victoria Pier right along to Wan Chai Pier.
This once again gave us the opportunity to marvel at the wonder that is Hong Kong by night and to fully take in the skyline over the whole length of the north side of the island whilst sharing precious moments of conversation, laughs, and friendships (both new and old).
I'm lucky to have some 'honorary family' in Hong Kong with whom I shared at lovely traditional hotpot meal during the holiday
The festival involves many occasions in which extended families will gather for reunions and meals together. On the third day of the new year I met with my ‘Hong Kong family’ for an amazing hot pot meal together.
After the three days of statutory local holiday, we also had the rest of the week off school which gave us a great opportunity to spend some more time having our local adventures and getting to know new flatmates and friends who had just arrived in Hong Kong for a semester 2 exchange.
Despite my dislike for boats I was on the ferry to Lantau Island twice within four days; the first time to hike the Lantau Trail on Wednesday and then on Saturday to explore Tai O Fishing Village together. Both were wonderful day trips and great weather on both occasions.
Looking out to the Hong Kong-Zahuai-Macau bridge from the northern peninsula of Tai O village
The end of the Spring Festival is marked by the Lantern Festival on day 15 of the new year. This day is marked by families who make paper lanterns together and eat 'sweet dumplings' which are glutinous rice balls with fillings such as sesame, peanut, or chocolate, and served in a red bean sauce.
To celebrate in style, I was invited to a gathering with some international students where we did just that; an evening of lanterns and dumplings. We cooked traditional Chinese dumplings from scratch (of which I was very proud) and made paper lanterns before sitting together to eat our home-created dumplings and the traditional Lantern Festival treats.
Celebrating the Lantern Festival with traditional dumplings
During the Lantern Festival, many outdoor areas also create massive outdoor displays of lanterns that depict iconic scenes for the Chinese culture; rabbits this year for the year of the rabbit, dragons which are a symbol of good luck, goldfish to represent the wish for a plentiful year and many patterns and shapes making for a very pleasing display.
A selection of the lanterns celebrating the end of the Spring Festival
First published: 31 March 2023