M is for May, Macau and moments
Macau’s fascinating Portuguese-Chinese heritage is the basis for a packed annual calendar of colourful events and festivals of all kinds, from spiritual ceremonies to lively celebrations. And May features some of the most interesting ones, including the intriguing Feast of the Drunken Dragon.
Macau’s wealth of vibrant traditions combined with its multicultural heritage provide an excellent reason to explore this unique destination - from Coloane village in the south to ancient Buddhist temples and the beautiful UNESCO-listed historical quarter in the city centre.
A-Ma Festival – May 6
This festival is very special to Macau as the city’s name is said to be taken from that of A-Ma, the Goddess of Seafarers. According to legend, A-Ma calmed the elements and saved a boat caught in a vicious storm. On reaching dry land, the sailors built a shrine to A-Ma and this temple survives today as one of the oldest buildings in Macau. During this festival, seafarers and their families visit the temple to pay their respects and ask for safety at sea.
Macau Arts Festival – May 1 to May 29
Featuring over 70 performances by 25 acts from 20 different countries, the festival brings together theatre, dance, music, circus, multimedia and visual arts, as well as Cantonese opera. This year’s festival will be the 21st of its kind and displays international creative trends as well as local talent. For specific information about the programme visit: icm.gov.mo/fam/
Procession of our Lady of Fatima – May 13
Reflecting Macau’s Portuguese history, this annual procession of devotees takes place from St. Dominic’s Church to the Penha Chapel where an open-air mass commemorates the miracle of Fátima in Portugal in 1917, when it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to three young children. The tradition was exported to Macau and is one of a number of Christian festivals still practised today in the territory.
Feast of Bathing of the Lord Buddha – May 21
On the 8th day of the Fourth Moon, images of Buddha are ceremonially cleaned and purified in Buddhist Temples throughout Macau.
Feast of the Drunken Dragon – May 21
Unique and unusual, this thoroughly entertaining festival dates back to the Qing Dynasty and pays homage to a Dragon which is said to have saved the people from a disastrous plague. A brave Buddhist monk slashed a giant python into three pieces and tossed them into the river. The pieces flew up to the sky and covered the ground with the creature’s blood. Believing that they had been saved by a divine dragon, the people carved its image and, at the annual festival, men perform a drunken dance with wooden heads and tails of a dragon.
Tam Kong Festival – May 21
This colourful festival celebrates the birthday of the God Tam Kong, a child god said to control the weather and help the sick. Among the fishing community, he is second in popularity only to A-Ma. There is Chinese opera, a procession through the streets and lively lion dances, while traditional offerings are made and firecrackers burnt near Tam Kong Temple, set in beautiful Coloane Village.
Nestled on China’s south coast at the mouth of the Pearl River close to Hong Kong, Macau celebrated its 10th anniversary as a Special Administrative Region of China on 20 December, 2009. It blends the best of its past with a host of new and exciting tourism attractions, making it one of Asia’s top leisure and event destinations.
For more information, visit: macautourism.gov.mo
