Feast of Drunken Dragon - Macau

For the past 50 years local Macau fresh fish traders from every food markets take part in the celebration and play “drunken dragon dancing”. This traditional feast takes place on the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calender and coincides with the Buddha’s Birthday and the Feast of God Tam Kung.

The Feast of Drunken Dragon tradition relates that the feast originated in Qing Dynasty in mainland China where the villagers were attacked with a plague. Calling on Buddha, the villagers paraded a Buddha statue when suddenly a python appeared and blocked the parade. A drunk monk came to the rescue, chopped the python into three parts, danced with glee, and threw the body parts into the nearby river.

Immediately the python’s blood changed the river into red and the python emerged from the waters and flew to the sky. Everybody believe this to be a good omen. People actually believed the python was a sacred dragon sent by heaven. And to prove this, the reddish river weeds became medicinal and when eaten can cure the plague illness very fast.

In Macau the Feast of Drunken Dragon parade begins at the Kuan Tai Temple near Senado Square with the traditional eye-dotting ritual. The procession then proceeds to visit every fresh food market. At every stop the celebrants dance the “drunken dragon dance” while drinking and spitting out strong Chinese wine.

Another popular Feast of Drunken Dragon tradition is the giving away of free lunch boxes the Red Market and Sao Domingos Food Market. These “longevity rice” is said to give a long life and blessings of more offsprings and wealth. Free longevity rice boxes are also handed out a Iao Hon, Holland Garden, Toi San and Patene.