A Guide to Chinese New Year Customs in Hong Kong Compared with Mainland China
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture. While Hong Kong and Mainland China share many similarities in celebrating this festive occasion, there are also distinct differences due to historical, cultural, and regional influences. Below is a guide to the customs in Hong Kong compared with those in Mainland China.
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1. Preparation for Chinese New Year
Hong Kong:
Markets and streets are filled with festive decorations, including peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and red lanterns.
Flower markets, especially the one in Victoria Park, are a major attraction where people buy flowers and plants symbolizing good fortune.
Families clean their homes thoroughly to sweep away bad luck and make way for good luck.
Mainland China:
Similar cleaning customs are observed, but the scale is often larger in rural areas, where entire villages participate.
Red paper cuttings (窗花, chuāng huā) with auspicious symbols are pasted on windows and doors.
In northern China, families prepare dumplings (jiǎozi) as a staple food for the New Year.
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2. New Year's Eve (除夕, Chúxī)
Hong Kong:
Families gather for a reunion dinner, often featuring seafood, roast meats, and traditional dishes like poon choi (盆菜), a layered dish served in a large basin.
Fireworks and light shows, such as the one at Victoria Harbour, are a highlight of the celebrations.
Many people visit temples, such as Wong Tai Sin Temple, to pray for blessings.
Mainland China:
The reunion dinner is equally important, with regional variations in dishes. For example, southern China favors fish (symbolizing surplus) and sticky rice cakes (niángāo).
Fireworks and firecrackers are set off nationwide, though some cities have restrictions due to environmental concerns.
Watching the CCTV Spring Festival Gala (春晚, Chūnwǎn) is a nationwide tradition.
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3. Red Packets (红包, Hóngbāo)
Hong Kong:
Red packets, called lai see (利是), are given to children, unmarried adults, and even service staff like security guards and cleaners.
The amounts are often smaller but given more widely compared to Mainland China.
Mainland China:
Red packets are primarily given to children and unmarried relatives.
The amounts can be larger, especially in wealthier regions, and digital red packets via apps like WeChat are increasingly popular.
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4. Visiting Family and Friends
Hong Kong:
Visiting relatives and friends is common, but the pace is often more relaxed due to the city's fast-paced lifestyle.
Many people take short trips to nearby destinations like Macau or Shenzhen.
Mainland China:
Visiting family is a major tradition, especially in rural areas where people return to their hometowns.
The holiday period is longer, and families often spend several days together.
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5. Lion and Dragon Dances
Hong Kong:
Lion and dragon dances are performed in public spaces, shopping malls, and temples to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
These performances are often accompanied by loud drumming and cymbals.
Mainland China:
Similar performances are held, but they are more common in southern China, such as Guangdong and Fujian provinces.
In northern China, other traditional activities like yangko dancing (秧歌, yānggē) are more prevalent.
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6. Temple Visits
Hong Kong:
Visiting temples, such as Wong Tai Sin and Che Kung Temple, is a major tradition. People pray for good fortune, health, and prosperity.
Incense burning and offerings are common practices.
Mainland China:
Temple visits are also popular, especially in cities like Beijing (Lama Temple) and Shanghai (Longhua Temple).
In rural areas, ancestral worship and village temple ceremonies are more prominent.
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7. Unique Customs
Hong Kong:
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival (held around the same time as Chinese New Year) features a unique tradition of climbing towers of buns for good luck.
Horse racing at the Sha Tin Racecourse is a popular event during the New Year period.
Mainland China:
In northern China, ice lantern festivals are held, especially in cities like Harbin.
In rural areas, ancestral worship and village fairs are significant parts of the celebrations.
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8. Post-New Year Celebrations
Hong Kong:
The Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuánxiāo Jié) marks the end of the New Year celebrations. People visit parks to see lantern displays and eat sweet glutinous rice balls (tangyuan).
Mainland China:
The Lantern Festival is celebrated nationwide, with lantern displays, riddles, and fireworks.
In some regions, such as Fujian, the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) is also observed shortly after the New Year.
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While Hong Kong and Mainland China share the core traditions of Chinese New Year, such as family reunions, red packets, and temple visits, the celebrations in Hong Kong are influenced by its unique blend of Cantonese culture and colonial history. Mainland China, on the other hand, showcases a diverse range of regional customs, reflecting its vast geography and cultural heritage. Both regions, however, emphasize the themes of family, prosperity, and renewal during this joyous time.
