A Kaleidoscope of Celebrations: My Exchange Year in Hong Kong
When I embarked on my exchange year in Hong Kong, I had no idea I was about to step into a whirlwind of festivals and celebrations unlike anything I’d ever experienced. From smaller celebrations that only last one day, to bigger festivals that span over a long period, my stay here was never short of experiencing the culture through its festivities. Join me as I tell you about some of the celebrations that made my time in Hong Kong truly unforgettable.
Mid-autumn Festival
When I arrived in Hong Kong at the beginning of September, I was immediately greeted by the many beautiful lanterns put up on display. The vibrant city looks even brighter during the mid-autumn season, and I would recommend visiting at least one park displaying the gorgeous lights. My favourite ones were the lights displayed at Victoria Park, ranging from big intricate lanterns as well as small exhibitions of lanterns made by primary students.
To help us exchange students learn more about the festival, there was a moon cake-making event hosted by the residential colleges, where we had the opportunity to experience making the traditional dessert. The moon cakes we made had a traditional filling of custard and salted egg, but if that does not seem like your thing, do not worry! There are so many variations of it today, ranging from very traditional with lotus paste, and the modern ones having a mochi-like skin with ice cream filling, there is surely a mooncake out there to suit your taste.
The student committee of the residential colleges also hosted a mid-autumn party for all its residents, and we were able to spend the evening creating our own lanterns and trying our hand at answering questions about the holiday. A fun way to get to know other residents as well, since this was still at the beginning of the new semester.
Hong Kong National Day
Starting the day off with the flag-raising event hosted by the HSU, was a fun way to begin the holiday. We all stood in silence as the staff raised the flag at the event area, and it was such an honour to see the raised flags fluttering in the wind.
After the flag raising, we students were given the chance to talk to many professors who had also joined the event, and it was very interesting to engage with them about our experiences so far in Hong Kong, as well as ask questions we had towards their field of expertise.
Once the more formal event was over, I made my way to enjoy the fireworks with my friends from the park in Tsim Sha Tsui, while at the same time, some of my peers were watching them from the central side. While the Hong Kong skyline is already so bright, the colourful fireworks helped lighten up the vibrant city even more. After the show, it was fun to see us compare the photos we took of the fireworks since many of us saw them from different locations.
Christmas
Considering that this was my first time away from home during Christmas, I was worried that I might feel a little homesick during the holiday. But thanks to the wonderful carolling event as well as the Christmas dinner hosted by Mosaic College, I was able to enjoy Christmas Eve with my friends and the wonderful staff of the RCs, chatting and enjoying each other’s company.
That feeling of loneliness that I was worried about? It never even crossed my mind during the event. It continued on this theme throughout my stay: The warm and welcoming atmosphere persisted, even through Hong Kong’s cold winter days.
Chinese New Year
As one of the biggest holidays in Hong Kong, I was very lucky to be able to experience the Chinese New Year in person. It being the year of the dragon, it wasn’t a surprise that there were red decorations with gorgeous gold dragons almost everywhere.
While the New Year itself was a school holiday, HSUHK still made sure that we exchange students could experience the holiday to its fullest. Starting with the event hosted by the global affairs office, we learned the meaning of the character “福” (it means fortune or good luck!), and got to make glutinous rice balls (tang yuan) from scratch. We were also taught about phrases one might use during the new year, and the staff made sure that our pronunciation was at least somewhat understandable.
The next event was hosted by the residential colleges. Each dorm had a team that created fun games and crafts for us students to enjoy, and I was especially fond of the red paper-cutting craft they had organized. It’s so amazing how a plain red sheet of paper can be turned into a beautiful decoration just by making a few cuts, and the sense of satisfaction you would get at the end from opening your cut paper made it even more enjoyable. There was also a booth that tested our knowledge about the Chinese New Year, and I am very proud to say that I was able to answer most of them correctly!
For example: Did you know you’re not allowed to throw out any garbage on New Year’s Day? It is believed that doing so will also throw out good fortune from the house.
During the actual New Year, I was lucky enough to be invited to visit the home of a student from mainland China. I enjoyed a nice dinner with my friend’s family and got to see the famous “lion dance” in person. It was a very lively and loud performance, but the swift movements made by the lions left me in awe. I was told that each colour of the lion has a different personality, and it was fun to see that during the performance, as well as when they interacted with the visitors afterwards.
While I understand the urge to travel during the Chinese New Year holiday, I really recommend at least visiting the country which also celebrates the holiday, since it really is such a unique experience!
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
On my many visits to the beautiful Cheung Chau island, the white buns with red writing have always caught my attention, and I was told that they were heavily associated with the yearly bun festival. Legend has it that during a deadly epidemic, the locals of the Island prayed to the deity Pak Tai and believed that consuming a “Ping on bun” would help ward off the disease.
I was lucky enough to have my final exams end early enough that I could personally visit the island on the day of the bun climbing event. The island was covered in colourful decorations and proudly showed off the bun as well, and I made sure to grab a few of the famous buns before the parade began. The parade featured all sorts of performances, but my favourites were the lion dances, as well as the kids dressed as deities skillfully balancing themselves on a platform, held up by adults. When the parade ended, I made sure to take a look at the main bun tower, the famous tower that would host the official bun climbing event during the night, but sadly couldn’t stick around to watch it live.
Overall, it was very crowded! Not only on the island but on the way to and back from it. The festive music and lively atmosphere made it an event worth going to, and I would definitely recommend giving it a visit if you have the chance! Just make sure to be well rested, and bring loads of water since it is quite a popular event.
I am very thankful that I was able to enjoy such a big part of Hong Kong culture during my stay through its celebrations, and I advise anyone who’s planning on visiting to also take their time and enjoy some of the festivals here if you can! It helps you see parts of a culture different from its every day.
Erika Beatrice FRISCHKNECHT
2023/2024
