Gambling Culture and Festivals in Macau

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The history of Macau is a unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese influences along with other western cultures. Only in Macau will you see a splendid blend of eastern culture intertwined with the west. With its varied cultural history, this mixed culture and festivals in Macau present the perfect combination of Asia and Europe alongside each other.

Gambling is a huge part of Macau’s culture as it has been legal since the 1850s, when the Portuguese government legalized such activities in the colony. Since then, Macau has been known to be the “Monte Carlo of the Orient” where gambling remains to be a significant part of the local life. Up until western-style casino games were introduced to the country in the 21st Century, Macau played only Chinese games, with Fan-Tan being the most popular. With the increasing number of hotels that are being built in the territory, Macau has already been deemed as the “Las Vegas of Asia”.

Gambling plays an important role not only to the culture of Macau but also to the economy of the city. Gamblers usually comprise Hong Kong and Mainland tourists as only a few Macanese visit casinos. There are three different categories that make up Macau gambling: casino games, horse racing and the last being greyhound racing. Other well-loved gambling activities include sports betting and a handful of lotteries.

Festivals in Macau usually transpire in late January or early February depending on when the Chinese New Year lands. These festivals continue all throughout June with another wave of festivals beginning in August and continue all throughout December. Festivals and holidays are comprised of great international celebrations, local festivals, religious events and traditional Chinese festivities. Although Macau was originally a colony of Portugal, the Chinese culture and people dominate a majority of these festive events.

Although these times are likely to be busier, the rewards certainly outweigh the costs when choosing to visit during such festivals. Here is a short list of the major events and festivals that Macau has all year-round.

Chinese New Year – Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival is the most important ethnic festival in Macau. This 15-day long festival begins on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.
Processions of the Passion of Lord – People assemble at the Macau Cathedral to remember the Passion of Christ. They also organize colorful street parades attended by massive amounts of people.
Dragon Boat Festival - Traditional long boat teams are seen calmly but strongly paddling to the beat of the drum.
Macau Arts Festival – To commemorate the cultural diversity of the city, this festival showcases Chinese opera with painting, dance and theater exhibitions.
Procession of Our Lady Fatima – Catholic girls parade and chant in white as they carry the statue of Our Lady from St. Dominic’s Church to the chapel on top of the Penha Hill.
Feast of the Drunken Dragon – This unusual festival remembers the ridding of a terrible plague back in the olden days. Intoxicated men present a dance performance at the Kwan Tai Temple to honor the occasion.

Macau’s Christian history is more evident in the city rather than in Mainland China due to the heavy influence of the colonization of Portugal. The rich gambling culture and festivals in Macau certainly explain why the city is such a pleasant tourist city to look forward to.