Cheung Chau Bun Festivalis a traditional Chinese festival on the
island of Cheung Chau. It is held annually in the fourth month (moon) of
the Chinese calendar.
http://www.cheungchau.org/
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival began as a fun and exciting ritual for
fishing communities to pray for safety from pirates. Today, it becomes a
showcase of traditional Chinese culture.
Cheung Chau is located at the south west of Hong Kong Island. It takes
about thirty minutes to one hour by ferry from Central.
http://www.nwff.com.hk/eng/fare_table/
The festival draws a great many overseas tourists and locals every year.
Yeah! We are from Australia. Cheese.
Three mountains of buns (three 60 feet bamboo towers covered with
buns) and other buns are for worshipping Divinities. In the past, this
was the place to hold 'bun-snatching' at mid-night.
When midnight came, hundreds young men climbed up to the three bun
mountains, torn off all the buns, put them in bag or spread them over
the crowd.
After the accident and collapse in 1978, bun-snatching was resumed in
1985. The framework of this bun mountain is now made up of steel. All
participants, divided into male and female groups, are mountaineering
equiped climbers.
Pai Tai (North King) Temple at the northern part of Cheung Chau. The
Pak Tai is believed to have the power to confer smooth sailing for the
fishing boats as well as providing good catches for their crews.
The followers hang their names and wishes on the tag of incense.
After bun-snatching, all buds would be distributed to locals at free.
But because of hot weather and high humidity, some (or all) buns would
be moulded and not edible. Please note.
Procession Route
An important ingredient in Procession is Parade-in-the-air. About two
hours before the start, they will have final check and decoration of the
steel frame.
All are secured on a trolley.
It is suggested to occupy a seat along the procession route two hours before the start and wait them to come.
They parade in the form of organizations.
Their divinity is carried in sedan chair to parade.
Children dressed as legendary, modern heroes or local government
officials are suspended on steel frame, like to glide through the air.
This is therefore called Parade-in-the-air.
It is too hot, we have to take off the coat, become a little girl in the street and eat ice-cream to cool down.
The
whole procession takes about two hours. It is suggested to occupy a
good location with plastic chairs along the procession route beforehand.
In this connection, the participation in the Bun Festival and
Parade-in-the-air can be fully enhanced. You are highly recommended to participate in this wonderful Bun Festival in the years to come.
Since it is called Bun Festival, quite a lot of souvenirs and merchandise are in the shape of bun, like socks for infant.
Lucky bun key-ring / Bun bags
Non-edible buns in bamboo steamer are too funny and amusing.
Reporter of Phoenix TV
/2011
