Bun Festival of Hong Kong
Every year in April-May, the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong celebrates the Bun Festival. The Bun Festival is a week-long festival celebrated by the fishing community to thank Pak Tai, the God of water, for helping them get a good catch throughout the year and for protecting them from pirates.
During the festival, people showcase Chinese culture. Famed lion and dragon dances, grand parades with vibrant floats and children dressed up as their favourite heroes floating in mid-air (supported by wires and rods), and loud music to drive away evil spirits add to the fun.
The most exciting part of the festival is on the last day at the Pak Tai temple, where three 20-m high bamboo towers are covered with sweet steamed buns, blessed by monks. At the sound of a gong at midnight, twelve selected youths, attached to safety harnesses, scramble up the towers to snatch away as many buns as they can. Good fortune is believed to befall the youth who succeeds in seizing the buns that are right on top.
Traditionally, the islanders become strict vegetarians for the three days of the festival — this is one time when the local McDonald’s serves only vegetarian burgers!
