Festivals & traditions: Practice Questions

Select the most suitable word to complete the sentence.

During the Lunar New Year, children are always excited to receive ________ from their elders because they contain lucky money.

Read the description of a Festivals & traditions event:

'During the Hungry Ghost Festival, many people burn paper offerings and leave food by the roadside. This is done to appease the spirits that are believed to wander the earth during the seventh lunar month.'

What is the meaning of the word 'appease' in this context?

Read the text about a traditional performance.

"The Lion Dance is a common sight during the Lunar New Year. Two performers inside a decorative costume mimic a lion's movements to the beat of drums, cymbals, and gongs. They often perform a routine called 'plucking the greens', where the 'lion' reaches for a head of lettuce containing a red envelope. This act is believed to bring wealth and prosperity to the business owners who host the dance."

What is the symbolic meaning of the 'lion' eating the lettuce?

Compare the two major festivals below and identify the common tradition shared by both.

Ching Ming Festival: Families visit cemeteries to clean ancestors' graves and offer food.
Chung Yeung Festival: Families hike to high places and also visit ancestors' graves to pay respects.

What do people do during both festivals?

Which of the following describes a tradition usually performed during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong?

The Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival both involve special foods.

(i) Name the food associated with the festival that occurs in the 5th month of the lunar calendar.
(ii) Explain the legendary connection between the 'Fire Dragon' and the village of Tai Hang during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

During the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, what is the symbolic purpose of the 'Bun Scrambling' competition, and what do the buns represent to the local community?

In Hong Kong, the Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) is often celebrated with a family dinner featuring tangyuan.

Part A: What do the round tangyuan dumplings symbolize in Chinese culture?
Part B: Why is this festival significant in terms of the length of daylight?

Read the following information about the Ching Ming Festival and answer the questions.

The Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional festival in Hong Kong. It usually falls in early April. On this day, families visit the graves of their ancestors to show respect. They clean the gravesites, offer food and flowers, and burn incense.

Part A: What is another name for the Ching Ming Festival?
Part B: When is this festival usually celebrated?
Part C: Name two things people do when they visit their ancestors' graves.

Read the passage about the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and answer the questions.

The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is a traditional event held during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Legend says that in the 19th century, a plague hit the village of Tai Hang. To stop the disease, villagers built a huge dragon out of straw and covered it with thousands of burning incense sticks. They danced through the streets for three days and nights. Today, this tradition is part of China's intangible cultural heritage.

Part A: During which festival does this event take place?
Part B: According to the legend, why did the villagers start this tradition?
Part C: What are the two main materials used to make the "Fire Dragon"?