The Top 12 Hakka Festivals Announced, Featuring Hsinchu’s “Da Zhong Wu” Custom for the First Time

By MOOK Travel & Living Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

 

The “2013 Top 12 Hakka Festivals” event has officially kicked off. Since its inception in 2009 (98 in the Republic of China calendar), this year not only includes 18 festivals selected from Hakka communities across Taiwan, but also adds three major events organized by the Council for Hakka Affairs—the “Six Districts Hakka Carnival,” “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival,” and “Hakka Traditional Opera Winter Performance”—bringing the total to 21 festival events that will enliven Taiwan throughout the year starting January.

Huang Yuzhen, Chairman of the Council for Hakka Affairs, pointed out that based on the estimated 6 million visitors and over NT$20 billion in economic impact generated by last year’s (2012) “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival,” this year’s (2013) “Top 12 Hakka Festivals” are projected to draw over 10 million visitors to Hakka regions, create an economic output exceeding NT$30 billion, and boost local employment opportunities—definitely making a strong impression on fellow Hakka people.

 

In addition to continuing popular events such as the “Miaoli Fire Dragon Festival,” “Tian Chuan Day,” and the “Tung Blossom Festival,” the 2013 “Top 12 Hakka Festivals” will, for the first time, include the century-old “Da Zhong Wu Cultural Festival” from Baoshan Township in Hsinchu County. Chairman Huang explained that “Da Zhong Wu” is a custom where, during the annual divine procession on the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month in Baoshan, local communities responsible for “Da Zhong Wu” prepare and serve their signature Hakka dishes on carrying poles for participating parade groups and villagers. Everyone is expected to finish the food, symbolizing a prayer for the new year to be “eaten clean, bringing a prosperous year.” Though this deeply Hakka-flavored event had gradually declined over recent decades, the hope is that through the “Top 12 Hakka Festivals,” this Hakka tradition can be revived and expanded—not only allowing older generations of Hakka to relive childhood memories but also helping younger people connect more closely with their Hakka heritage.

The “Top 12 Hakka Festivals” will feature celebrations full of Hakka characteristics held across Taiwan, including: In January, the “Hakka Pickled Vegetable Culture Festival” in Gongguan, Miaoli; in February, the “Miaoli Fire Dragon Festival,” “Baoshan Township Da Zhong Wu Cultural Festival,” “Pingtung Six Districts God of the Soil Cultural Festival,” and “Dongshi New Year God Welcoming Festival”; in March, the “Tian Chuan Day” Hakka Mountain Song Competition in Hsinchu, the “Six Districts Carnival”; in April, the “Hakka Tung Blossom Festival”; in May, the “Toufen April 8th Hakka Culture Festival”; in June, the “Sanyi Cloud Fire Dragon Festival” and Taoyuan’s “Tung Boat Homecoming Culture Festival”; in July, Hualien’s “Joyful Gongs and Drums Full of Hakka Spirit & Drum King Competition”; in August, the “Hsinchu Hakka Righteous Spirits Festival” and “Neiwan Comic Festival”; in September, Pingzhen’s “Kirin Welcoming Deities & Granting Peace” and Yunlin’s “Zhao’an Hakka Culture Festival”; in October, the “Hsinchu County International Drum Art Festival”; in November, “Guoxing Township Seizing Success” and “Kaohsiung Night-Blooming Cereus Festival”; in December, “Taitung Good Rice Winter Harvest Festival” and “Hakka Traditional Opera Winter Performance.”

 

 

●Read more: Hsinchu Beipu Mazu Procession — Hakka “Da Zhong Wu” Banquet for Peace

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