Culture of Macau

Macauis an autonomous territory withinChina. APortuguese colonyuntil 1999, Macau has a diverse culture firmly rooted inCantonese culture, with a mix of influences fromEast AsiaandWestern Europe. Macau is known for being the largestgambling centerin the world.
The two official languages of Macau areChineseandPortuguese, although the latter is only spoken by a small minority.Englishis also widely spoken. As of 2016, 80.1% of the population speakCantoneseas their daily language.
In 2018Reutersstated "there are signs that Chinese is being prioritized in government."
TheMacanese language, generally known asPatuá, is a distinctivecreolethat is still spoken by several dozen members of theMacanese people, an ethnic group of mixedAsianandPortugueseancestry that accounts for a small percentage of Macau's population.
Signs in Macau are displayed in bothTraditional Chineseand Portuguese. In contrast to mainland China, Macau—along withHong KongandTaiwan—generally does not useSimplified Chinese characters.
Among the main migrants of the country are skilled workers from thePhilippines, henceTagalogis one of the most-heard foreign languages.
The worldwide popularity of Cantonese food andChinese martial arts(kung fuorwu shu) has made them popular in Portugal as well.
In 1998, the firstFestival da Lusofoniatook place in Macau, a festival of Portuguese-speaking communities. In November 2013, the 16th edition of the festival took place over the duration of two and a half days with musical activities, kids programmes, traditional Portuguese games and food from Portuguese-speaking countries' cuisines.
Most of the pop music that can be heard on the channelTDM Teledifusão de Macau(澳廣視)is imported from Hong Kong or overseas (mainlyJapan). However, more and more local songs are being recorded by locals. Some Brazilian TV stations are also broadcast in Macau.
Macanese cuisine is a blend ofsouthern Chinese(especiallyCantonese cuisine) and Portuguese cuisines, with significant influences from Southeast Asia and the Lusophone world. The most famous snack is the Portuguese-styleegg tart. It is widely popular in Southeast Asia, especially inTaiwanandHong Kong. The most famous Macanese food isgalinha à portuguesa, which is served in numerous varieties in Macau restaurants.
In 2018 Reuters stated that the cuisine was one of the few remaining Portuguese influences in Macau.
The primary religion isBuddhism.Roman Catholicismhas considerable influence in education and social welfare in Macau. However, adherents only count for about six percent of the population.Protestantismis spreading quickly, especially among the younger demographic groups.
A few independent films have been produced since the late 1990s. Recent Macau film productions include:
The Macau International Music Festival is conducted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macau SAR Government every autumn.The 20th anniversary of the MIMF was celebrated in 2007 with performances ofJazz,classical music,electronica, Chinesefolk-pop,rockandFado.
OtherLusophone musictypes popular in Macao aresamba,bossa nova, andkizomba.
In 2005, theHush!! Full Band Festivalgot established, a government-sponsored modern music festival featuring pop rock and hard rock bands from all over Asia with a focus on Macau bands. The festival is free of charge and it's in its 9th edition in 2013.
The literature of Macanese (i.e. those with Portuguese descent) is a multi-dimensional art.Their literature appeared as early as the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, a group of well-known writers appeared:
Cantonese operais quite popular, especially among elderly residents. In 2003, the Cultural Institute of the Macau S.A.R Government, in collaboration with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR, organized the exhibition "Fong Yim Fun – The Life and Work of aCantonese OperaArtiste".As a well-known actress and opera artiste inGuangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, Fong Yim Fun performed in more than 150 operas and films. Part of her works was exhibited in theMuseum of Macauat that time.
TheMacao Cultural Centrewas established in 1999, for the purpose of offering unique venues for artistic events, international conferences and exhibitions, enhancing cultural exchange, and helping to expand culture horizons among Macau residents. Hundreds of programs and events take place there almost every day—e.g.,martial artsperformances, European traditional music, Chinese traditional music, foreign music, varies types of dancing, etc.
The Macau Ricci Institute is a recent foundation of theJesuitsin Macau. Its aim is to continue the process of friendly encounters betweenChineseandEuropeancultures and traditions, which was begun byMatteo Ricci1552–1610 many years ago.