Tin Hau Festival-天后誕

Tin Hau Festival| Introduction
Tin Hau Festival| 18 Areas
Tin Hau Festival| Era
Tin Hau Festival| Date

Tin Hau Festival| Introduction

Tin Hau temples throughout Hong Kong serve as the primary locations for religious gatherings and ceremonies related to the Tin Hau beliefs. These worship rituals held at the temples foster a sense of community and unity among different clans. Annually, on either the 23rd day of the third lunar month or other designated dates, celebrations are held in various districts to commemorate Tin Hau’s birthday. These festivities vary in scale and may include Cantonese opera performances by local organizations as a gesture of gratitude towards Tin Hau. Additionally, there is an exchange of fa pau (paper floral tributes) during these events. Some communities also organize parades along waterways or on land to mark this occasion. Notably, in 2021, the Tin Hau Festival in Hong Kong was recognized and included on China’s fifth national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

Tin Hau Festival| 18 Areas in Hong Kong

1. Tin Hau Festival, Sam Chau Ma, Tuen Mun

   Each year, the Castle Peak Sam Chau Ma Committee Limited joyously commemorates the Tin Hau Festival from the 8th to the 14th days of the fourth lunar month. The celebrations encompass a series of rituals involving welcoming and bidding farewell to deities, as well as captivating opera performances dedicated to expressing gratitude.

2. Tin Hau Festival,Hau Kok, Tuen Mun

   The Tuen Mun Tin Hau Festival Committee commemorates the Tin Hau Festival annually on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. Amongst a multitude of festivities, the event organized by the fa pau (paper floral tribute) associations stands out as particularly captivating.

   

3. Tin Hau Festival, Sha Chau, Tuen Mun

   The Management Committee of Tuen Mun Sha Chau Tin Hau Temple joyously commemorates the Tin Hau Festival at Sam Shing Estate in Tuen Mun. This grand celebration takes place annually, spanning from the 6th to the 9th day of the sixth lunar month. The festivities entail a series of rituals including inviting revered deities, making ceremonial offerings, and bidding farewell to these divine beings.

4. Tin Hau Festival in Hang Hau

   The Tseung Kwan O Hang Hau Tin Hau Temple Committee carefully chooses a span of five consecutive days during the late third or early fourth lunar month to celebrate the annual Tin Hau Festival. To enhance the festivities, a professional Cantonese Opera troupe is engaged to deliver captivating performances. The ceremonial proceedings encompass inviting revered deities, expressing gratitude towards the divine entity, and bidding farewell to these esteemed beings.

5. Tin Hau Festival, Ping Yuen, Ta Ku Ling

   The Ta Ku Ling Ping Yuen Opera Committee celebrates Tin Hau Festival annually, with members paying homage and presenting offerings to Tin Hau. Cantopop singers and Cantonese opera performers perform at the temple.

6. Tin Hau Festival, Leung Shuen Wan, Sai Kung

   The Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple Committee celebrates the Tin Hau Festival every two years, with Cantonese Opera performances and various rituals including memorials, altar inauguration, meals for ghosts and audience, name list posting, sea parade, and great offerings.

   

7. Tin Hau Festival in Ping Shan

   Every year, the Ping Shan Rural Committee joyously commemorates the Tin Hau Festival on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. This festive occasion sees various fa pau associations coming together to partake in the celebrations. The vibrant festivities take place at Tin Hau Temple in Fung Chi Tsuen, Yuen Long and feature a fa pau raffle as well as an auction of blessed objects.

8. Tin Hau Festival in Tsing Yi

   The Tsing Yi Tin Hau Temple Management Committee in the Kwai Tsing District joyously commemorates the Tin Hau Festival annually, spanning from the first to the fifth day of the fourth lunar month. To enhance this grand occasion, a renowned Cantonese Opera troupe is engaged to deliver captivating performances. The festivities encompass various rituals such as inviting revered deities, jubilant celebrations, and bidding farewell to these divine beings.

   

9. Tin Hau Festival in Ping Chau

   The Ping Chau Kaifong Association and local societies celebrate the Tin Hau Festival annually with Cantonese opera performances lasting five nights and four days.

10. Tin Hau Festival in Joss House Bay, Sai Kung

    The Joss House Bay Jiao Committee celebrates Tin Hau Festival annually with various rituals including inviting deities, inaugurating the altar, confession rite, offering to the altar, posting villagers’ names, scattering flowers, feeding water ghosts, giving offerings to wandering ghosts and sending off deities.

11. Tin Hau Festival, Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island

    The Southern Lamma Tin Hau Festival Opera Committee celebrates the Tin Hau Festival annually on the 18th day of the fourth lunar month. Various fa pau associations gather outside the Tin Hau Temple in Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island to celebrate.

12. Tin Hau Festival, Sai Wan, Cheung Chau

    The Cheung Chau Sai Wan Ma Shing Tong Committee celebrates the Tin Hau Festival annually from the 15th to the 20th day of the third lunar month. They hire a Cantonese opera troupe for a thanksgiving performance and members of fa pau associations present offerings to celebrate.

13. Tin Hau Festival, Luk Chau, Lamma Island

    The Luk Chau Tin Hau Festival Committee celebrates the Tin Hau Festival on Lamma Island every year. The festivities include placing the statue onto a dragon boat, consecration of the boat, and dragon boat racing at Luk Chau Wan.

14. Tin Hau Festival, Fan Lau

    The Fan Lau Opera Committee on Lantau Island joyously commemorates the Tin Hau Festival annually, taking place from the middle to the end of the fourth lunar month. A professional Cantonese Opera troupe is engaged to deliver captivating performances. The festivities encompass various activities such as inviting divine beings, conducting raffles for fa pau (paper floral tributes), and organizing auctions for blessed objects.

    

15. Tin Hau Festival, Shek O, Big Wave Bay and Cape D’Aguilar

    The Shek O Residents’ Association in the Southern District joyously commemorates the Tin Hau Festival annually, selecting dates within the eighth to tenth lunar month. To honor this festive occasion, a renowned Cantonese Opera troupe is engaged to deliver captivating performances. The ceremonial proceedings encompass inviting divine beings, presenting paper costumes to Ma Niang (also referred to as Tin Hau), and bidding farewell to the deities.

16. Tin Hau Festival, Sai Kung

    The Sai Kung Kai Fong Committee holds the Tin Hau Festival for five days in the fourth lunar month. They hire an opera troupe and paper floral tribute associations pay homage to Tin Hau outside the temple.

17. Tin Hau Festival of Shap Pat Heung

    The Tin Hau Festival of Shap Pat Heung is held annually on the 23rd day of the third lunar month. It includes activities like fa pau associations joining in the celebration and parade.

    

18. Tin Hau Festival of Tai Po Old Market

    Every year, the Tai Po Old Market Tin Hau Temple Communal Activity Committee and the Tai Po Luen Yick Rural Office come together to organize a grand celebration known as the Tin Hau Festival. This vibrant event takes place on the 22nd and 23rd days of the third lunar month. The festivities are filled with various activities including a lively parade, solemn worship ceremonies dedicated to the deity, and captivating opera performances that serve as expressions of gratitude.

Tin Hau Festival| Era

Song dynasty

Tin Hau Festival| Date

The 23rd day of the third lunar month