festival

  • The Must-Have Rave Items for Your Very First Festival

    ·

    Coyote Hunters Team

    Are you wondering what the best party essentials are to bring to a festival featuring electronic dance music?

    Read More: rave essential

    Due to production, ambiance, and, of course, the significant part of rave culture, EDM events are typically not like ordinary concerts. At my first festival, I was completely unprepared and, to put it politely, overwhelmed by all I saw.

    After attending several performances and conducting extensive research, we have compiled the perfect list of rave essentials to ensure you have the best first time ever!

    1.) A Backpack with Water Reserves

    A hydropack, sometimes referred to as a hydration backpack, is typically the first item I suggest at a festival. Only when your favorite DJ is spinning and you’ve found the perfect spot in the crowd—and then you realize you’re extremely thirsty and have to go buy some ridiculously expensive water bottle—do you feel truly sorry. Because a hydropack contains an integrated pouch that can hold up to two liters of water, you can stay hydrated for a long period wherever you go! Since most events have free water stations, using a hydropack also means you’ll never have to pay for water! We recommend the Lunchbox or GenZ packages. In addition to keeping you hydrated, these packs provide a plethora of other amazing functions, such as anti-theft protection, which unfortunately might happen periodically and may secure your most valuable belongings.

    2.) Pashmina

    The holy grail’s festival gown. Is there anything about a pashmina that you dislike? Apart from being an excellent accessory, pashminas provide additional benefits. One of the best things a pashmina can offer is weather protection. It may be used as a cover to protect your skin from the sun’s rays, a makeshift umbrella in the case of rain, or a blanket in the oppressive cold. When attending a festival, they can also act as a buffer against overstimulation. Applying a few drops of lavender essential oil to the tips of your pashmina is a great way to make it more calming to wear, in my experience!

    3.) An admirer

    Be prepared to battle heat, the enemy that every raver dread most, if the weekend weather prediction predicts sunlight, bright skies, and temperatures above 85 degrees.

    But really, events throughout the day may get quite hot, increasing your risk of overheating and dehydration. One tool that might be quite beneficial for staying cool is a hand fan! Despite their small size and delicate appearance, they produce an air stream that is unlike anything I have ever seen, especially during really hot weather. I also like to fan people as they go through the crowd, and they typically appreciate it! During festivals, it’s a great chance to meet new people and start a discussion.

    4.) Totem

    To put it simply, a totem is something that facilitates group location. They could alternatively be viewed as merely things created for human seeing or as pieces of art. You may add signs, flags, pool noodles, cuddly toys, and much more. Many people also decide to hang lights around their totem to make it easier to find in a crowd.

    One of the strangest totems I’ve ever seen was a plain upturned broom, yet it worked! Totems are quite helpful for larger groups because if someone gets lost, they can easily find the group again after viewing the totem! The lively and creative totemic culture of this town is one of my favorite features! If you’re traveling in a group, creating a humorous totem with your pals might be a great way to get into the festival spirit.

    5.) Earplugs

    Your eardrums are left asking, “What is going on? ” Everything in life is beautiful, and you’re dancing to the fullest with the bass and music hammering. Am I going to blow up? Will this be the final one? Even while this may seem a bit excessive, protecting your ears is essential and can prevent future issues like hearing loss. Businesses like Eargasm manufacture earplugs that combine protection and sound quality in a special way. If wearing earplugs as earrings is more your style, online stores provide them!

    6.) A Seating Surface!

    Sitting down and taking a break with your pals might result in some of the best festival experiences. In order to relieve some of the strain on my feet or to sit on when watching a performance in the back of the crowd, I normally pack a blanket or tapestry. When I’m sitting, I like to use glow sticks to round the blanket or tapestry to create a little party space and keep people from trampling on me as they pass! You may also use that tapestry or blanket if you ever become too cold!

    7.) An inflatable couch

    Speaking about seats, an inflatable sofa would be your best option if they are allowed at the event! They are really simple to erect, comfortable, and easy to store. Undoubtedly, I enjoyed some of the best sleeps of my life while sprawled out on one of these amazing inflatable couches during the Okeechobee Music Festival. They are not just available on Amazon at low prices, but they are also sometimes sold by festival vendors!

  • Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong: traditions, festivities and delicacies you don’t want to miss

    ·

    Coyote Hunters Team

    One of the most important occasions in Chinese culture has traditionally been the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mid-Autumn, also called the Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival, is observed on the full moon day, which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Every year, the precise day fluctuates due to the differences in the Gregorian and lunar calendars. The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place on September 17, 2024.

    Read More: 中秋節到會

    Mid-Autumn is a multi-custom celebration. Chinese people traditionally give thanks to the moon and rejoice over their abundant agricultural harvest. It’s also a time to moongaze and offer prayers for good fortune. More significantly, families come together to rejoice being reunited after being separated over the Mid-Autumn season. Continue reading to learn more about the history, customs, and celebrations of the event in Hong Kong.

    What was the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival?

    The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival are the subject of several folktales, the most well-known of which being the story of Hou Yi and Chang’e. The legend states that Hou Yi shot down nine of the 10 suns that previously graced the sky to save the earth from being burned. He received an immortality elixir as payment for this valiant act. Chang’e, the wife of Hou Yi, was forced to drink the elixir when an apprentice attempted to steal it.

    Chang’e, who is eternal and weightless, rose to the moon, where she lives as the Moon Goddess beside the Jade Rabbit. For this reason, one of the most traditional lanterns is modeled after the rabbit, and the rabbit theme is prevalent throughout Mid-Autumn festivals. Observers of the moon still attempt to discern the silhouettes of Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit on the face of the full moon.

    How is Mid-Autumn Festival observed in Hong Kong?

    Families utilize the occasion as an opportunity to get together since the full moon symbolizes reunions. Typically, this involves having a family supper that is followed by mooncakes, sticky rice balls, and seasonal fruits.

    Of course, taking in the sight of the full moon itself is equally essential. This involves wishing the moon a happy arrival on the eve of Mid-Autumn, looking at it on the festival night, and bidding it farewell the next day. Maybe you’ll be inspired too, since ancient Chinese poets would often wax poetic at the moon! The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Victoria Park, Tamar Park, West Kowloon Art Park, and Hong Kong Park are some of the greatest places in the city to see the moon.

    Paper lanterns were formerly taught to children to create and decorate, but with so many lantern stores popping up all over the city, it’s far easier to just buy one and walk to the park at night, lighting your path with a lit lantern. Although there are electronic versions that can even play music, you may still purchase the conventional paper version.

    Solving puzzles with lanterns is another Mid-Autumn custom. Lanterns were adorned with riddles written on little pieces of paper, which often conveyed blessings of knowledge and prosperity.

    What are some Mid-Autumn festivities and events?

    The city is filled with lantern displays in the middle of autumn. Parks, the Harbourfront Shared Spaces, the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, Lee Tung Avenue, and other locations are frequently home to these. Don’t be shocked if you see a light display because some of these lanterns have been updated with modern features like LED lights. Visit Victoria Park specifically to see the most expansive Mid-Autumn light festival in the city.

    The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance procession is another Hong Kong-only custom associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The fire dragon dance, which has a huge dragon covered with 12,000 incense sticks, is supposed to have started as a ritualistic activity to keep the neighborhood safe from an epidemic. This unique procession is still maintained by a committed Hakka community and is now listed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage as well as Hong Kong’s list. Pok Fu Lam Village celebrates Fire Dragon Dance on its own as well.

    Snackle on Mid-Autumn treats

    Mooncakes are without a doubt the most iconic representation of the Mid-Autumn Festival. These round pastries represent harmony and togetherness and are embodied by the full moon. They often have a salted egg yolk center and lotus seed paste within. Bakeries have created a broad range of modern flavors throughout time; choose from frozen mooncakes with snow skin to ones with contents like mochi, tea, coffee, and truffles. Since mooncakes are known to be heavy, slice them into wedges and serve them to your loved ones.

    Fruits are another essential meal at this time of year, particularly those with Chinese names or forms associated with good fortune. Stock up on examples such as star fruit and pomelo!

    Tong yuen, or sticky rice balls, are the traditional last course of family reunion dinners. The Chinese term for “togetherness,” tuen yuen, contains the character “yuen.” Although they are available in several flavors, the most common ones are peanut or black sesame.

    Finally, because osmanthus is thought to hold the secret to longevity, osmanthus wine or tea is sometimes served with mooncakes.

    INTERESTING FACT

    The day following the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated as a public holiday rather than the festival date itself since the majority of Mid-Autumn celebrations occur at night. The following Monday will be observed as a public holiday if the event occurs on a Sunday. Additionally, MTR and bus services will be extended, operating through the night of the celebration.