One of the most prevalent superstitions in Hong Kong is the belief in the power in numbers. In the Cantonese language, many words share the same pronunciation as numbers. The number three sounds similar to ‘life’, nine sounds like ‘eternity’, and the number eight like ‘prosperity’. Lowest on the list is four, which has the same pronunciation as the word for ‘death’. Thus companies or homebuyers will shell out extra money for an address that contains one or more number eights. Each year the Hong Kong government draws in millions of dollars for charity by auctioning off automobile license plates, which feature lucky numbers. The Bank of China Tower opened on 08/08/88 - a rare union of the prosperous numbers. Couples rush to be married if there is an eight in the date, so August is a busy month! A few buildings around the city are missing their 4th or 14th floors, but overall people seem able to live with the number four, despite its ominous overtones. Some foods are also luckier than others. On birthdays, celebrants may eat noodles, as the long strands symbolize longevity. Sea moss, which in Cantonese has the same sound as ‘prosperity’, is always an auspicious ingredient. Peach juice is believed to be a life-giving elixir, while garlic and ginger can protect one against evil.
The chinese Dragon
The dragon is traditionally regarded as one of the four heavenly creatures of good omen in Chinese mythology. The fondness for dragons has lead to dances in his honor as the principal feature of festive procession and celebrations.
Labels: Travel information
posted by Hills @ 8:23 PM
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