December 27 – Ta Chiu in Hong Kong

Posted December 27, 2013

Although only a small percentage of Chinese people are Christian, the celebration of Christmas is becoming popular in big cities such as Hong Kong, and you can see decorated trees, thousands of lights, and other decorations in stores and malls.

Today is a Taoist festival of peace and renewal. One of the customs is reading a list of all the names of the people who live in a particular area...then attaching the list to a paper horse and burning it. As the smoke rises, so do the hopes for those people.

Taoism or Daoism?

Lao Zi was the founder of Taoism.

Because “Tao” is pronounced “Dao,” you will sometimes see the word spelled with a “D.” Tao means The Way to happiness. Taoism is more of a philosophy and a code of ethics than it is a religion; however, many people treat it as a religion when they discuss the religions of the world.

• Check out this kid-oriented page on Taoism. 

• Here is another. 

Also on this date:

Anniversary of the opening of Radio City Music Hall 

Anniversary of the debut of Peter Pan 

Kwanzaa (from 12/26/11 to 1/1/12)

Astronomer Johannes Kepler's birthday

Microbiologist Louis Pasteur's birthday

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest pages on:

• December holidays 
• December birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in December
  

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

• January holidays 
• January birthdays 
• Historical anniversaries in January