The twenty-third day of the third lunar month of the Chinese calendar is marked by the birthday-festival of Tin Hau. (It usually falls in late April or early May).
Tin Hau (also known as Matsu) is considered as the Queen of Heaven and Goddess of the Sea. According to legend, she was born in 906 AD on Meizhou Island, Fujian as Lîm Bek-niû, the seventh daughter of Lîm Goān. She did not cry when she was born, and thus her given name means "Silent Girl." There are many legends about her and the sea...
Although she started swimming relatively late, at the age of 15, she soon became an excellent swimmer. She wore red standing on the shore to guide fishing boats home, even in the most dangerous and harsh weather, and she was also able to forecast the weather and save seafarers from shipwrecks.
After her death, the families of many fishermen and sailors began to pray to her in honor of her acts of courage in trying to save those at sea. Much of her popularity, in comparison to other sea deities, resulted from her role as a compassionate motherly protector, completely different from authoritarian father figures.
Her birthday-festival is a noisy colorful affair, with devotees holding pilgrimages to major Tin Hau temples, and fishermen decorating their boats in honor of this popular deity.
There are over 70 Tin Hau temples scattered around Hong Kong, some in remote fishing villages but many in what have become urban areas. The oldest temple, dating from 1266, is at Joss House Bay, located in the eastern New Territories, just across the water from Hong Kong Island. This is the scene of some of the biggest celebrations, including a parade of fishing boats decked out in colorful flags. Another great celebration is held to the north in Yuen Long, where many locals take part in a three-hour parade through the town to worship at the Tin Hau Temple.
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Next in line: Cheung Chau bun festival and the Birthday of Lord Buddha
