Why on earth will everyone in Hong Kong be buying mooncakes and lighting lanterns on October 6th?

Just in case one of the millions of tourists poised to flow into our city over the next week asks this question, it might be useful to have an answer.

Why Stories matter more than Facts and Figures

The reason for Mooncakes is easy to recall. Given that October 6th will be the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, there will be a full moon. This is expected to be the brightest of the year, symbolising reunion and giving thanks for an abundant autumn harvest.

This tradition began 3,000 years ago in the Shang Dynasty.

As for the reasons for the lanterns, there are various legends. These include when in 1880 the Hakka village of Tai Hang was struck by a typhoon and a subsequent plague that killed many young villagers. In the hope of stopping the plague, villagers made a dragon with joss sticks in the frame and paraded through the village. It seemed to do the trick: the plague stopped.

Ever since then, every year the villagers of Tai Hang perform a 3-day fire dragon dance in Hong Kong. This is a 67 metre long dragon with over 20,000 burning incense sticks and fireworks, and requiring 300 performers.

An impressive sight, to be sure. And if you’re lucky enough to catch sight of this dragon, you’re quite likely to tell your friends and family all about it. But as time goes by, chances are that you’ll forget the actual length of the dragon and the number of performers. Instead, you’ll probably just remember that it was ‘big, loud, and smoky’.

But what you won’t forget was how it made you feel.

And so it is with all ‘presentations’ – be they ceremonial, artistic, educational, or for business. It’s the stories we remember, not the facts and the figures.

Or as Maya Angelou once said:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”

Tales from the Media Room
The use of Idioms and how Powerful they can be

In light of the recent horrendous weather we've experienced here in Hong Kong and the dramatic news coverage of this week's Super Typhoon Ragasa we have decided to explore the use of idioms and how powerful they can be not only in news/ media coverage but often in everyday language!

I have always been the butt of jokes in the Connect office for my obsession with certain phrases and idioms! Sayings such as "it's a monkey's wedding' out there todayor "you've hit the nail on the head," or "I really need to get my ducks in a row" have left my Dutch and Chinese colleagues with a look of confusion on their faces on many an occasion.

Read: the use of Idioms and how Powerful they can be

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

May the glow of the moon surround you and light your way to health, happiness and prosperity ✨

Warmest regards,

The Connect Family

Why Stories matter more than Facts and Figures