Tin Hau Festival (天后誕) is on the 23^rd day of the 3rd month in the Lunar Calendar, which is usually in April or May in the Gregorian calendar. It is one of the most widely celebrated Chinese festivals in Hong Kong. People gather together to celebrate the Birthday of Tin Hau. This year, the festival falls on 19 April 2017.

If you have been to Hong Kong, you may have seen Chinese Temple before. But you may not know that the largest number of temples in Hong Kong is Tin Hau Temple. There are over 70 Tin Hau Temples across Hong Kong. It is not difficult to find one nearby your accommodation.

Tin Hau (天后), “Heaven Queen” literally, named Lin Mo(林默) was born on Meizhou Island, part of Fujian’s Putian County, in the Song Dynasty (AD960-1279). Her name, Mo, means “silent” in Chinese. It was said that she did not cry when she was born and hence the name. However, she had a special ability to predict the weather since her childhood, and she always rescued people when shipwrecks occurred. She continued to save fishermen and sea merchants after her death according to legend. Therefore, coastal villagers started to built temples to worship her so as to pray for good weather and harvest. She was deified since then and has become the patron saint of fishermen and all those who sail on the sea. Moreover, she was recognized by various imperial emperors. She was awarded the title, “Heaven Princess” in the Yuan Dynasty, and then “Heaven Queen” in the Qing Dynasty.