19 February 2024
By Hannah Lau
Lunar New Year is undoubtedly the most important festival for Chinese people in a year. To greet this occasion, there are not only most households are devoted to preparing that celebration such as being busy for purchasing festive deco, food, and different stuffs, but also the streets will be filled with a strong festive atmosphere by being lined with red and decorations that only belongs to the limited period of Chinese New Year. As these interesting things are abnormally scattered in daily and deeply symbolize the New Year, here is a summary of six wonders that can only be seen on different streets of Hong Kong during that celebratory season.
1. The God of wealth greets you on the street
Feeling tired of returning to the office after a wonderful holiday? No worries, look at the bright smile of the Caishen’ s face, the mythological figure represents the god of wealth and is worshipped in both Chinese folk religion and Taoism, widely believed that he has the powers to bestow on people the rich and fortune.
(Photo: Hannah Lau)
There are serval versions of Cainshen’s origin and history are circulated from past to present, it is hard to figure out whether they are the genuine historicity, though most of the stories agree that Cainshen was incarnate deity during the early Qin dynasty.
Starting from February, it is probable to meet giant inflatable Caishen figures in different districts. If you are lucky enough to see him, congrats! “Gung Hei Fat Choy” will happen to you in the rest of the year.
2. The streets turn red by the lanterns
When you look up on some streets in Hong Kong, you will realize a lot of red dots and plump balls floating above your head which are the indispensable item in Lunar New Year—Chinese lanterns.
Although there is no longer a practical need for Chinese lanterns nowadays for lighting, they are still enjoyed by the Chinese people during festivals or occasions since they symbolizes family reunion, wealth, prosperous career, fame, thus blessing of prosperity, happiness, brightness, vitality, perfection. Therefore, there are different street streets are decorated with red lanterns during every Chinese New Year to create a festive atmosphere and greet the most important festival for them where the Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai and Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui are the most signature and ironic example in every year.
Custom behind hanging lanterns
Chinese people insist hanging lanterns in even numbers or pairs as the Chinese traditional culture and customs regard even numbers as stable, positive vibe, balanced symbolizing, and the old saying: “good things come in pairs.”
3. Basketball courts become flower market
Don’t be shocked to see the basketball courts are replaced by the plush toy, flowers, and food in Hong Kong during the Lunar Chinese Year.
The Hong Kong Chinese New Year Flower Markets are annually held across 15 districts for people boosting their luck with a pot of auspicious flowers, traditional food and bring some Year of Dragon souvenirs home from 4 to 10 of February 2024.
Due to the pandemic, It is very first year that a full celebration of Chinese New Year returns to Hong Kong. Therefore, everyone is extremely looking forward to it return in this year since going to flower market is a must for every Hong kong people. “Even it is worth to sacrifice more time in basketball courts to exchange for the flower market”, Elise said, 7-year-old girl, standing by the right side in the photo. As usual, there are 15 basketball courts in Hong Kong that will be temporarily suspend all ball games during the implementation of the flower market and replace them with food, flowers, and dry goods- all three types of stalls.
As a local of Hong Kong, the tip for snapping up discounts and successful bargain with the stall owners is to visit the market on last day !
4. Floats are parking on the street
They are not the “car” illegally parking on the street in Tsim Sha Tsui, which are actually the floats from the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, a float carnival in Hong Kong.
Here are no regrets for missing and being absent to the float carnival on-site as the Hong Kong government abnormally transfers and displays all floats that have performed on the carnival in the community for citizens seeing them close-up after the event. So, don’t miss out this precious chance to see these splendid floats for free on The Urban Council Centenary Garden, Tsim Sha Tsui from 11 to 25 February.
5. Writing “Fai Chun” on the street
As the Lunar New Year draws near, calligraphers gather on the streets of Sheung Wan to write beautiful phrases on red paper banners, which immediately catches the attention and spark the curiosity of passersby, including locals, foreigners, and tourists as the sidewalk has shifted into an outdoor calligraphy room.
As the Lunar New Year draws near, calligraphers gather on the streets of Sheung Wan to write beautiful phrases on red paper banners, which immediately catches the attention and spark the curiosity of passersby, including locals, foreigners, and tourists as the sidewalk has shifted into an outdoor calligraphy room.
“There is no thing happier than applying my interest in calligraphy and writing Fai Chun to send people blessings.”
Uncle Kwok, an 83-year-old calligrapher, who writes Fai Chun on the street of Sheung Wan.
Known as “Fai Chun” (red couplet) in Cantonese, these banners not only symbolize hopes for good luck, prosperity, happiness, and success for the Year of the Dragon, but also represent a root-seated customs and routine for every Hong kong people greeting the arrival of Lunar New Year.
Roughly one week before New Year, you would probably see several calligraphers gathering here in Sheung Wan and fitfully set up stalls to write calligraphy, and the amazing scenes of numerous Fai Chun are hung and cover upon the walls, stairs and railings around the streets to wait for drying, which is a rare moment of witnessing such traditional calligraphy and the scene that only happen before few day before the Chinese New Year, and worth to see in the year.
6. Bus with Chinese New Year Greeting drives on the street
However, it may be a bit difficult to encounter and capture it since there are only several buses have been put on these Chines New Year greetings within the limited period of time. So, you better seize the time and do some researches to witness it, Good luck to you!