Festive customs and folk practices form an essential part of ICH, blending elements of history, religion, agriculture, astronomy, and more. They reflect humanity’s reverence for nature, adherence to social order, and pursuit of a better life. China boasts a wide variety of such traditions—from the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival to the Dragon Boat Festival and Double Ninth Festival, from dragon boat races to fire dragon dances—each serving as both a cultural vessel and a source of community cohesion.

Hong Kong shares strong cultural ties with the Mainland and the Greater Bay Area in festive customs. The Foundation documents these traditions through visual records, academic research, and cultural festivals, bringing them from local communities to broader platforms. For instance, our “Greater Bay ICH Festival” showcased Mid-Autumn fire dragon dances and Chaozhou Yingge dances at an international convention center, allowing global audiences to experience the vibrancy of Eastern festivals.

We also explore contemporary expressions of these customs, such as integrating traditional festivals with urban light art for waterfront events, or collaborating with tourism agencies to create “ICH Festival Tours” that immerse visitors in the history and cultural meaning behind each celebration.

Festive customs are more than symbolic holidays; they are vehicles for transmitting shared values and emotions. Through generational participation and witness, they strengthen national identity and foster cultural confidence.