Book A Flights - Celebrate A Chinese Festival in Authentic Hong Kong Style - Eat!

Each of the major and minor holidays during the year is intrinsically connected with special dishes that are essential to eat during the celebrations. Food has deep meaning in Chinese culture and is of great significance to the colourful and grandiose festivals celebrated by people of East Asian descent all over the world.

It can be quite noisy at this time of year as anyone who has lived near any East or South East Asian community knows because of the abundant number of firecrackers set off during this time to which are believed to drive away evil spirits. Perhaps the most well known of these holidays is Chinese New Year which is celebrated during January or February each year depending on the lunar calendar.

Noodles are also eaten during New Year celebrations and should be made as long as possible as they represent a long and prosperous life. Such as whole fish and chicken, symbolise togetherness and long life and always should be presented whole on the table, many foods eaten during the New Year are said to bring good luck.

A glutinous rice dumpling flavoured with different ingredients depending on the local custom before being wrapped and cooked in a banana leaf, the must-have delicacy during this festival is 'zongzi'. Which marks the time for Dragon Boat races whose participants range from amateurs to professional teams that compete in big cities around the world, the next big celebration is the Dragon Boat festival.

Which later became known as the Dragon Boat festival and this is why 'zongzi' are still eaten to this day, villagers began making the rice dumplings or 'zongzi' during the time of the anniversary of Qu Yuan's sacrifice, to commemorate his death. His sacrifice caused the country to begin a period of reflection and a long period of peace followed. After his death legend says all the villagers threw rice into the river to tempt the river dragons to eat the rice and save his spirit from being devoured. It is said he ended his life by jumping into a river because of great sorrow and disillusionment he felt in response to the corruption that he saw happening all around him. The dumpling eating history of this festival revolves around a famous poet named Qu Yuan.

Food and mingling with the local people is sure to provide an authentic experience, sounds, or any other cities in the far-east during one of these festivals is well worth doing as the sights, taipei, beijing, visiting a city like Hong Kong. The experience is extremely rewarding, but if you can make it out there, booking flights and accommodation during either of these major festivals can be challenging due to their popularity.