Hong Kong English/Cantonese (XX)

“The Fifteenth Day of the Eighth Lunar Month”

What a special day today

It’s 1st October, and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

Today marks the 71st anniversary of the day when the Chinese Communists stole the whole country. Also, it is also a joyous day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It is quite a rare scene for some Hongkongers to celebrate two important dates on the same day.

Anyway, the more traditional Chinese festival is more fascinating to me, and this festival also leads to some phrases that may sound fun to look at/hear.

The phrase is “the 15th of the eighth month” (八月十五, Jyutping: baat3 jyut6 sap6 ng5). Oh, it’s too long in English, let me try to simplify it. How about just write it as “8.15” here?

Please don’t get it confused with 15th August, which is of no significance in the Chinese language.

On “8.15”, it is usually the exact date when there is a full moon in the mid-Autumn lunar month. This is why this is called the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節, Jyutping: zung1 cau zit3) in Chinese. Moreover, as it is a full, rounded, moon, the Mid-Autumn Festival also signifies the reunion of the families.

Apart from the meanings related to the festival, “8.15” can also refer to a person’s buttocks in Cantonese. It’s obviously because of the shape of the body part, which is rounded just like the full moon.

I have no idea why people use the date to refer to the buttocks instead of calling it a “full moon”, but it still sounds funny to hear.

Having “8.15” referred as buttocks, we also have a phrase to ask people to “get their ‘8.15’ washed” (洗乾浄＿個八月十五, Jyutping: sai2 gon1 zeng6 ___ go3 baat3 jyut6 sap6 ng5). This phrase is used to curse somebody to get caught and then imprisoned.

I’m pretty sorry but I don’t understand why people need to get one’s own arse washed before going to jail. Is that because there is something people need to do with their bottom when jailed?

Today is the day of reunion, but this year in Hong Kong, some families can no longer reunite for the festival. And this disappointment is brought by the barbaric government which “revolted” all traditional Chinese cultures and traditions while claiming they are the legitimate government of the country.

Let me finish this with a quote from classical Chinese:

Those who steal a hook receive a death sentence, those who steal a country receive a dukedom. (竊鉤者誅，竊國者侯)

I just hope those criminals get their “8.15” washed.

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