Picture of Macao
Caption: FEAST Of The Drunken Dragon
Picture
Caption: Every year, on the Eighth day of the Fourth month on the Lunar Calendar, the workers of Macau's Fish Industry participate in a raucous and celebratory tradition.
The Feast of the Drunken Dragon
Caption: Origins of the celebration reach back hundreds of years and correspond with the celebration of Buddha's Birthday and the Feast day of the Daoist God Tam Kong. As such, it melds elements of Buddhism, Daoism, and local customs.
Picture
Picture
Caption: The Traditions are kept by Macau's local fishermen and fish traders. The festivities give honor to a miracle associated to the end of a Plague. On the day the plague ended, a python emerged from a river on the day in which the Buddha statue was to be ritually bathed.
Picture
Picture
Caption: The snake was dispatched by a monk releasing the curse of the plague.
Picture
Caption: The people, believing a dragon had delivered a divine miracle, celebrated this day by drinking heavily and dancing with effigies of dragons.
Picture
Picture
Caption: In Macau, the celebration begins at Kwan Tai Temple near Senado Square and ends near the fish markets at Inner Harbor.
The mood is always jovial while copious amounts of alcohol are used and consumed. Lion dances, trailing dragons and lively drums accompany and fill the atmosphere.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Caption: Today, the event is more about a celebration of local and civic pride. The unique event, often overshadowed by the more popular Cheng Chau bun festival in near by Hong Kong, attracts many tourists and photographers that easily out number the participants.
Picture
Picture
Caption: Should you find your self making plans to visit Macau, may I suggest making your plans around May. This event is uniquely Macanese and is often over looked by foreign tourists.
You will walk away having experienced a true side of Macau that eclipses the experience of the Casinos.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Caption: Authored by Luke Lienau
---
Luke is an expat living in Macau teaching English and pursuing amateur photography.
All rights reserved
If you wish to use or purchase any photographs used within
You can reach him via
Twitter @lmlienau
Instagram @lmlienau
Flickr - Global Reactions
Email - LMLitebox@gmail.com
Picture
Caption: Credits and Sources
Metropolasia
http://www.metropolasia.com/macau_holidays_and_festivals/drunken-dragon-festival
Macau Tourism Office
http://m.macautourism.gov.mo
Instituto Cultural do Macau
http://m.icm.gov.mo
And special thanks to the wonderful people of Macau for their warm acceptance of the expatriate community
Picture
Caption: #Macau #2015 #festival #travel
