Happy Good Friday! Due to its history of colonialism, Hong Kong to this day continues to celebrate all Christian holidays, despite only about 16% of its population being Christian. So for the rest of the six million or so Hong Kong residents, what does Easter really look like?
Family Fun
For the majority of Hong Kong locals, Easter is primarily viewed as a short break from work or school. Throughout the city, various Easter-themed activities are organised to provide family-friendly entertainment. Several restaurants including Locanda CANALI, The Bayside, The Cipollini Pizzeria, Gaylord, Quiero Mas, CAFE@WM, Harbour Restaurant, Cafe Lantau, and Restaurant Petrus are offering special Easter menus for the weekend. Additionally, major shopping centres such as Pacific Place and Lucky Plaza are hosting events for children. “I’ve personally never celebrated Easter before,” says Hong Kong local Jerry Wu, “we just bring the kids to come take pictures with the decorations.”
Cantonese Mass
On the other hand, those that do celebrate Easter will find that Hong Kong churches blend traditional Christian customs with local cultural influences. Sermons and prayers are conducted in Cantonese, making the service more accessible and meaningful to locals. Many churches also incorporate Cantonese music, including traditional instruments and melodies into their worship to create a distinctive fusion of faith and culture. This harmonious integration reflects Hong Kong’s multicultural identity.
Hong Kong’s Oldest Church
St. John’s Cathedral, founded in 1849, offers services in English, Cantonese, Putonghua, and Tagalog. Adrian Davis, the head of the choir, says he loves singing in the different languages. “The Chinese lyrics will be spelled out in English underneath for us to read,” says Davis, “it’s quite fun.” Visitors can refer to their website at https://www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk/ to see service times in their preferred language. “It’s wonderful that we can hold Easter services for so many people in Hong Kong.” says The Very Revd Kwok-keung Chan (KK), the Dean of St. John’s Cathedral.