Dates for your dairy… General Public Holidays for 2024
Add Hong Kong’s public holidays to your e-calendar at 1823 Hong Kong Public Holidays iCal Calendar.
Note: As the second day of Lunar New Year in 2024 falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of Lunar New Year will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.
Dates for your dairy…
Labour Day and the Birthday of the Buddha in 2022 both fall on a Sunday, the day following them will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.
In addition, since the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in 2022 falls on a Sunday, the second day following that Festival will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.
As Christmas Day in 2022 falls on a Sunday, the second weekday after Christmas Day will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.
Add Hong Kong’s public holidays to your e-calendar at 1823 Hong Kong Public Holidays iCal Calendar.
The Government has announced that the Year of the Ox Lunar New Year fairs at 15 locations across Hong Kong and the Che Kung Festival Fair in Sha Tin scheduled for February have been cancelled due to the Wuhan virus (Covid-19).
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department commented: “To assist flower farmers to sell flowers through other alternative means, we will meet with major stakeholders of the trade to actively explore feasible measures under the premise of upholding the anti-epidemic principles, such as identifying suitable locations in public housing estates or other places in various districts for selling New Year flowers, with a view to minimising the impact of the cancellation of the LNY fairs on the trade.”
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Chinese-New-Year-2016-HKTB/i-NH6ZrTS/A
images: HKTB
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-3dWJHJC
An assorted group of students and youth organisations hosted a friendly Lunar New Year carnival at Southorn Playground in Wanchai from the 2-4 February to celebrate the Year of the Pig.
There was a range of imaginatively named stall selling bovine themed goods including stuffed animals, hand decorated notebooks, imitation neon pig signs, balloons and a fun friendly atmosphere.
Click on any image for the full gallery.
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-SsXXTPP
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-BDF6ZDV
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-B2tZ3x9
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-2V9wPg4
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-pbn9H8L
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-jkMDn3J
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-Southorn-Playground-2-4-February-2019/i-W7VFGvs
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-2016/i-hJWzWkT
The opening of Lunar New Year flower markets across Hong Kong announces the start of Chinese New Year. While the fairs started as exclusively flower markets, today as well as flowers you can buy a wide range of Chinese New Year themed goods including decorations, red packets, stuffed animals, toys….
Flowers are an important part of Chinese New Year as everyone hopes to improve the feng shui of their homes and offices for the year ahead. Broadly the benefits of the main flowers you’ll find at the markets are as follows:
Kumquat plants: financially prosperous year
Chrysanthemum: long life
Lettuce: wealth generation
Peach blossoms: romance and longevity
Peonies: prosperity
Tangerine trees: fruitful marriages, goodwill, prosperity and good luck
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-2016/i-DbxBTt5
The market in Victoria Park has also become an important fund raising hub for local political parties and charities of all persuasions. This year however the FEHD who run the fairs and are supposed, as part of the government, to be politically neutral, decided to ban two parties who oppose Beijing’s Sinafication of Hong Kong and the erosion of freedom of speech and the politicisation of the police and judiciary.
Hong Kong
Causeway Bay – Victoria Park
Kowloon
Kwun Tong – Kwun Tong Recreation Ground
Sai Kung – Man Yee Playground
Sham Shui Po – Cheung Sha Wan Playground
Sham Shui Po – Fai Hui Park
Tseung Kwan O – Po Hong Park
Tung Chung – Tat Tung Road Garden
Wong Tai Sin – Morse Park
New Territories
Kwai Tsing – Kwai Chung Sports Ground
North District – Shek Wu Hui Playground
Sha Tin – Yuen Wo Playground
Tai Po – Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square
Tsuen Wan – Sha Tsui Road Playground
Tuen Mun – Tin Hau Temple Plaza
Yuen Long – Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-2016/i-4ZTLKDG
Lunar New Year Fairs
Date: Noon – midnight, 22–27 January
Midnight – 6am, 28 January
Venue: 15 parks and playgrounds including Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok
Tickets: Free
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Chinese-New-Year-Parade-2016/i-VCrzBft/0/XL/IMG_5311-XL.jpg
Merging old traditions with modern tourism the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Chinese New Year Parade has become a popular spectacle with locals and visitors. The arrival of the year of the Fire Monkey was heralded with a vibrant, joyous visual extravaganza, a perfect start to the new lunar year. This year’s show featured 13 floats and 22 participating troupes from across the globe including from west coast America, the Netherlands and local groups performing alongside ‘big names’ such as Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
bc’s Hannah Ridley was part of the Ocean Park troupe. “As a performer it was a very memorable experience, to have the opportunity to meet such a varied range of talented performers”. Asking around the participants almost everyone replies with a confident “yes”; practices were tough and tiring however upon seeing the smiles and waves from the crowd there is no doubt that all of the effort and time that was put in paid off.
Waiting backstage, it was fascinating to see the creativity and beauty as the various floats and troupes came to life and the parade took shape. Smiles and chatter were everywhere as performers of all ages interacted and in doing so created a lively and exciting environment bringing happiness and a cloak to any pre-start nerves. Personally that was the highlight of my evening, being part of such a diverse group from across the world, each possessing artistic talent and all sharing experiences and making memories.
A parade is unique, on stage the audience is cloaked in shadow their reactions mostly hidden and delayed. The box shaped parade route is a cacophony of sound and energy. The deep crowds on either side of the road creating a tunnel of energy and infectious enthusiasm that is unforgettable. The invigorating atmosphere and cheers inspire us as performers. The road becomes a river of joy along which we float. The snatched glimpses of the broad smiles on the faces of children in the arms of their parents or wedged against the barriers at the front, delight as much as they threaten to distract. The mutuality of the excitement that we as performers create and that the crowds give us is what makes a parade so magical. That even amongst all the excitement a high five or a wave to someone brings a wide smile is a very happy feeling.
Kung Hei Fat Choi
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous Year of the Monkey.
恭喜發財 Kung Hei Fat Choi
Wishing all our readers a happy and prosperous year of the monkey.
Travel this Lunar New Year is cheaper as the MTR reduce fares. On the 9 and 10 February adult Octopus holders will enjoy child concessionary fares and holders of other octopus card will pay just $1 per journey.
Other existing MTR discounts such as the Interchange Discount, the Fare Saver Discount and the 25% discount for connecting journeys with the Monthly Pass Extra etc will still function – unless the resulting fare is $0. There are no completely free trips.
The main exclusions for the discounted Lunar New Year travel are the Airport Express, MTR Feeder Bus, journeys to or from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations and East Rail Line First Class Premium.
Full Terms and Conditions here: http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/main/cny_festive_discount_2016.html
