The Changhua County Government is inviting the public to join its “National Hakka Day” activities this week, aimed at celebrating and preserving Hakka culture in the area.
“Whether religious rites, cultural activities or folk practices, they are all worthy of maintaining and preserving,” Changhua County Commissioner Wei Ming-ku (魏明谷) said.
The county annual holds a series of Hakka activities on Tianchuanri (Heaven Mending Day, 天穿日) — or “the day that the sky breaks” — the 20th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, in an effort to raise awareness of Hakka heritage and culture among young people, he said.
Hakka legend tells of a big hole in the sky that was created because of a competition between the Water God and the Fire God. To save the world from disasters and hardships, the deity Nu Wa (女媧) patched up the sky with stones. People were grateful for Nu Wa’s help, and created Tianchuanri to thank her.
Hakka people used to take the day off from work to make rice snacks that were given as offering to Nu Wa.
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