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- Panel 4-2 Funeral feasts in Hong Kong: A ritual in the process of vanishing and transforming /Stanley Ng
Panel 4-2 Funeral feasts in Hong Kong: A ritual in the process of vanishing and transforming /Stanley Ng
Stanley Ng
Independent Researcher, Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage briefly mentions two funeral feasts—the Gaai Wai Zau (consolation feast) and the Ying Hung Feast (post-mourning banquet)—yet their significance remains underexplored. This paper examines how these feasts function in modern Hong Kong, where urbanization and fast-paced lifestyles have eroded many traditions. Despite streamlined funeral practices (e.g., shorter ceremonies, increased cremation), the Ying Hung Feast persists as a vital communal ritual, fostering connections between the living and the deceased while preserving religious and cultural symbolism in food. The study also investigates how commercialization and standardization have shaped funeral customs, influenced by both government policies and private sector trends. In Hong Kong’s efficiency-driven society, funeral rites have been simplified, yet feasts endure as key social mediators within families and communities. This research highlights Hong Kong’s unique East-West cultural blend, which gives rise to an adaptable cultural context of “ritual buffets” that allow personalization while maintaining communal harmony. Ultimately, the paper underscores the enduring social and psychological role of funeral feasts, even as traditions evolve in response to modern urban life.
Keywords: funeral customs; commemorative gatherings; Chinese food; cultural rituals; Hong Kong bereavement; ritualized meals; ritual buffets
Independent Researcher, Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage briefly mentions two funeral feasts—the Gaai Wai Zau (consolation feast) and the Ying Hung Feast (post-mourning banquet)—yet their significance remains underexplored. This paper examines how these feasts function in modern Hong Kong, where urbanization and fast-paced lifestyles have eroded many traditions. Despite streamlined funeral practices (e.g., shorter ceremonies, increased cremation), the Ying Hung Feast persists as a vital communal ritual, fostering connections between the living and the deceased while preserving religious and cultural symbolism in food. The study also investigates how commercialization and standardization have shaped funeral customs, influenced by both government policies and private sector trends. In Hong Kong’s efficiency-driven society, funeral rites have been simplified, yet feasts endure as key social mediators within families and communities. This research highlights Hong Kong’s unique East-West cultural blend, which gives rise to an adaptable cultural context of “ritual buffets” that allow personalization while maintaining communal harmony. Ultimately, the paper underscores the enduring social and psychological role of funeral feasts, even as traditions evolve in response to modern urban life.
Keywords: funeral customs; commemorative gatherings; Chinese food; cultural rituals; Hong Kong bereavement; ritualized meals; ritual buffets