71
the fact that this could, and certainly did, happen!
Invitation cards
Invitation cards were the very bedrock of formality. The event, place and time, would of course be stated, together with the names of the principal officiating guests (government officials, prominent persons and local dignitaries); and if an association was the host, the cards might list the names of members of the organizing or current committees.
Let me describe one of these productions, the invitation card received for the Ta Chiu held at Kam Tin in the Yuen Long District of the New Territories in 1975. Typical of the genre, the card consists of a double sheet of glossy red paper, printed in gold characters on all four sides, but with the recipient's name and office on Sheet 1, the front face, brushed in black ink. Sheet 1 also provided the sender's details, and the address of the invitee, since invitations were usually sent by post. Sheet 2 was the formal notification of the event, Sheet 3 contained the details of the opening ceremony, and Sheet 4, the back face, gave details of the organizing committee and elders. The wording followed the polite literary phraseology long in use for such occasions. The separate items of the opening ceremony, which would all be announced in sequence by a 'master of ceremonies' on the day, ran as follows:
1. Congregate (at the ceremonial site)
2. Invited guests to take their seats
3. Ribbon cutting by the presiding official guest
4. Chairman's speech
5. Speech by presiding official
6. Presentation of commemorative banners etc.
7. Speech of thanks (to individuals and organizations)
8. Photographs
9. Ceremony declared over
10. Lion and unicorn dances
11. Vegetarian repast [no meat was to be eaten over the ritual period]
Though not stated on this invitation card, it was usual in events of this sort, in which the deities were being asked to protect and bless the local community, for the managers and principal guests to pay their combined respects through placing incense sticks at one of the temporary
71
the fact that this could, and certainly did, happen!
Invitation cards
Invitation cards were the very bedrock of formality. The event, place and time, would of course be stated, together with the names of the principal officiating guests (government officials, prominent persons and local dignitaries); and if an association was the host, the cards might list the names of members of the organizing or current committees.
Let me describe one of these productions, the invitation card received for the Ta Chiu held at Kam Tin in the Yuen Long District of the New Territories in 1975. Typical of the genre, the card consists of a double sheet of glossy red paper, printed in gold characters on all four sides, but with the recipient's name and office on Sheet 1, the front face, brushed in black ink. Sheet I also provided the sender's details, and the address of the invitee, since invitations were usually sent by post. Sheet 2 was the formal notification of the event, Sheet 3 contained the details of the opening ceremony, and Sheet 4, the back face, gave details of the organizing committee and elders. The wording followed the polite literary phraseology long in use for such occasions. The separate items of the opening ceremony, which would all be announced sequence by a 'master of ceremonies' on the day, ran as follows:
in
1. Congregate (at the ceremonial site]
2. Invited guests to take their seats
3. Ribbon cutting by the presiding official guest
4. Chairman's speech
5. Speech by presiding official
6. Presentation of commemorative banners etc
7. Speech of thanks (to individuals and organizations]
8. Photographs
9. Ceremony declared over
10. Lion and unicorn dances
11. Vegetarian repast [no meat was to be eaten over the ritual period]
Though not stated on this invitation card, it was usual in events of this sort, in which the deities were being asked to protect and bless the local community, for the managers and principal guests to pay their combined respects through placing incense sticks at one of the temporary
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