Macanese people
Encyclopedia
The Macanese-born Portuguese people or simply the Macanese people refer to an ethnic group
which originated in Macau since the 16th century, consisting mostly of people with some Portuguese
ancestry.
, which is a Portuguese
-based creole
and now virtually extinct. Many are fluent in both Portuguese
and Cantonese. The Macanese have preserved a distinctive Macanese cuisine
.
government - Portuguese from Portugal who knew little about Chinese - and the Chinese majority (95% of population) who knew equally little about the Portuguese. Most Macanese had paternal Portuguese heritage until 1974. These were Portuguese men stationed in Macau as part of their military service. Many stayed in Macau after the expiration of their military service, marrying either Macanese or Chinese women who spoke Portuguese. Many Macanese also now have Cantonese paternal ancestry, some Portuguese women and Macanese women who stayed in Macau married local Cantonese men.
During the late-nineteenth century, and increasingly during Salazar
's fascist Estado Novo regime, the upbringing of most Macanese fell along the lines of the continental Portuguese - attending Portuguese schools, participating in mandatory military service (some fought in Africa) and practising the Catholic
faith. As recently as the 1980s, most Macanese had not received formal Chinese schooling and, hence, could speak but not read or write Chinese. Spoken Cantonese was largely familiar, and some spoke the language with a regional accent (鄉下話) - acquired largely from their mothers or amahs.
Since Portuguese settlement in Macau - dating from 1557 - included a strong Catholic presence, a number of Chinese converted to Catholicism. A large number of Macanese can trace their roots to these New Christians. Many of these Chinese were assimilated into the Macanese community, dropping their Chinese surnames and adopting Portuguese surnames. In the collective Macanese folk memory, there is a little ditty about the parish, called 進教圍, where these Chinese converts lived: 進教圍, 割辮仔, 唔係姓念珠 (Rosário) 就係姓玫瑰 (Rosa). Hence, it is surmised that many Macanese with surnames of Rosario
or Rosa
probably were of Chinese ancestry. Because of this, there are many Eurasians carrying Portuguese surnames Rosario, Rosa, and others that are not Portuguese-blooded may be mistaken by others as Portuguese-blooded. These Eurasians have their ancestry from the Britons
, White Americans, Canadians
, Australians
, and some other Europeans who live in Macau for business.
The mid-twentieth century, with the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific and the retreat of the Republic of China to Taiwan, saw the Macanese population surge through the re-integration of two disparate Macanese communities: the Hong Kong Macanese and the Shanghai Macanese. With the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, the Macanese population, escaping the occupation, made its way to Macau as refugees. These Macanese, including many skilled workers and civil servants, were fluent in English and Portuguese and brought valuable commercial and technical skills to the colony. Another distinct group within the Macanese community is the 上海葡僑; the descendants of Portuguese settlers from Shanghai that acted as middlemen between other foreigners and the Chinese in the "Paris of the Orient". They emigrated from Shanghai to Macau in 1949 with the coming of the Red Guard. Many spoke little Portuguese and were several generations removed from Portugal, speaking primarily English and Shanghainese, and/or Mandarin. The Shanghai Macanese carved a niche by teaching English in Macau. During World War II, Carnation Revolution
, and before and after Macau's return to China, Macanese once again migrated to Portuguese African colonies and Brazil
, other Latin American countries, Canada
, United States
, and Australia
. Those who returned to Macau often speak English, Portuguese, Chinese, Macanese, and African languages.
, Cantonese and Mandarin
. In the 1980s Macanese or Portuguese women began to marry men who identified themselves as Chinese.
Traditionally, the basis for Macanese ethnic affiliation has been the use of the Portuguese language at home or some alliances with Portuguese cultural patterns and not solely determined along hereditary lines. Pina-Cabral and Lourenço suggest that this goal is reached "namely through the Portuguese-language school-system". Often, due to the close proximity to the Portuguese, the Macanese closely identify themselves with Portuguese nationals as opposed to Chinese in the bi-cultural and bi-racial equation. In practice, however, being Macanese is left up to how individuals categorize themselves. Since the re-integration of Macau with the People's Republic of China in late 1999, the traditional definitions are in a state of re-formulation. Given the shifting political climate of Macau, some Macanese are coming to recognize and identify closer with a Chinese heritage.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
which originated in Macau since the 16th century, consisting mostly of people with some Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
ancestry.
Culture
Historically, many ethnic Macanese spoke PatuaMacanese language
Macanese or Macau Creole is a creole language derived mainly from Malay, Sinhalese, Cantonese, and Portuguese, which was originally spoken by the Macanese community of the Portuguese colony of Macau...
, which is a Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
-based creole
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
and now virtually extinct. Many are fluent in both Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and Cantonese. The Macanese have preserved a distinctive Macanese cuisine
Macanese cuisine
Macanese cuisine is unique to Macau, China and which consists of a blend of southern Chinese and Portuguese cuisines, with significant influences from Southeast Asia and the Lusophone world. Many unique dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to...
.
The Portuguese Period
Portuguese culture dominates the Macanese, but Chinese cultural patterns are also significant. The community acted as the interface between ruling colonialColonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
government - Portuguese from Portugal who knew little about Chinese - and the Chinese majority (95% of population) who knew equally little about the Portuguese. Most Macanese had paternal Portuguese heritage until 1974. These were Portuguese men stationed in Macau as part of their military service. Many stayed in Macau after the expiration of their military service, marrying either Macanese or Chinese women who spoke Portuguese. Many Macanese also now have Cantonese paternal ancestry, some Portuguese women and Macanese women who stayed in Macau married local Cantonese men.
During the late-nineteenth century, and increasingly during Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
's fascist Estado Novo regime, the upbringing of most Macanese fell along the lines of the continental Portuguese - attending Portuguese schools, participating in mandatory military service (some fought in Africa) and practising the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
faith. As recently as the 1980s, most Macanese had not received formal Chinese schooling and, hence, could speak but not read or write Chinese. Spoken Cantonese was largely familiar, and some spoke the language with a regional accent (鄉下話) - acquired largely from their mothers or amahs.
Since Portuguese settlement in Macau - dating from 1557 - included a strong Catholic presence, a number of Chinese converted to Catholicism. A large number of Macanese can trace their roots to these New Christians. Many of these Chinese were assimilated into the Macanese community, dropping their Chinese surnames and adopting Portuguese surnames. In the collective Macanese folk memory, there is a little ditty about the parish, called 進教圍, where these Chinese converts lived: 進教圍, 割辮仔, 唔係姓念珠 (Rosário) 就係姓玫瑰 (Rosa). Hence, it is surmised that many Macanese with surnames of Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
or Rosa
Rosa
The name Rosa, Latin and botanic name of the flowering shrub Rose, could refer to:-Places:*223 Rosa, an asteroid*Rosa, Alabama, USA*Rosa, Germany, in Thuringia, Germany*Roşia Nouă village, Petriş Commune, Arad County, Romania-Other uses:...
probably were of Chinese ancestry. Because of this, there are many Eurasians carrying Portuguese surnames Rosario, Rosa, and others that are not Portuguese-blooded may be mistaken by others as Portuguese-blooded. These Eurasians have their ancestry from the Britons
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
, White Americans, Canadians
Euro-Canadian
European Canadians are Canadian people of European origin, descent, birth, or ancestry. English Canadians , French Canadians and Scottish Canadians were the three largest self-reported ancestry groups in the Canada 2001 Census....
, Australians
European Australian
A European Australian is a citizen or resident of Australia who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
, and some other Europeans who live in Macau for business.
The mid-twentieth century, with the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific and the retreat of the Republic of China to Taiwan, saw the Macanese population surge through the re-integration of two disparate Macanese communities: the Hong Kong Macanese and the Shanghai Macanese. With the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, the Macanese population, escaping the occupation, made its way to Macau as refugees. These Macanese, including many skilled workers and civil servants, were fluent in English and Portuguese and brought valuable commercial and technical skills to the colony. Another distinct group within the Macanese community is the 上海葡僑; the descendants of Portuguese settlers from Shanghai that acted as middlemen between other foreigners and the Chinese in the "Paris of the Orient". They emigrated from Shanghai to Macau in 1949 with the coming of the Red Guard. Many spoke little Portuguese and were several generations removed from Portugal, speaking primarily English and Shanghainese, and/or Mandarin. The Shanghai Macanese carved a niche by teaching English in Macau. During World War II, Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
, and before and after Macau's return to China, Macanese once again migrated to Portuguese African colonies and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, other Latin American countries, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Those who returned to Macau often speak English, Portuguese, Chinese, Macanese, and African languages.
The Chinese Period
Beginning with the post-1974 independence of other Portuguese colonies and hastened by Macau's return to China, the Macanese community began to lose its Portuguese heritage. Many Portuguese, Eurasians and Chinese who were loyal to the Portuguese left after its return to China. Of those that remained, many children - including those of pure Chinese descent - switched from Portuguese- to English-medium high school education, particularly as many of parents recognised the diminishing value of Portuguese schooling. At the same time, Macanese of pure Portuguese descent are also learning Cantonese and Mandarin to be able to communicate to non-Portuguese speaking Chinese. Today, most Macanese - if they are still young enough - would go back to study to read and write Chinese. Many see a niche role for fluent speakers of PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, Cantonese and Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
. In the 1980s Macanese or Portuguese women began to marry men who identified themselves as Chinese.
Macanese identity dispute
There is some dispute around the exact meaning of "Macanese". An essay by Marreiros offers a broad spectrum of "Macanese types", ranging from Chinese Christian converts who live among the Portuguese to the descendants of old-established families of Portuguese lineage; all groups are integrated into this historically legitimated group. As a general rule, it is not a point of reference, however for ethnic Chinese living and raised in Macau; they often identify themselves as Chinese or Chinese from Macau; "Macanese" is applied to those persons who have been acculturated through Western education and religion and are recognized by the Macanese community as being Macanese.Traditionally, the basis for Macanese ethnic affiliation has been the use of the Portuguese language at home or some alliances with Portuguese cultural patterns and not solely determined along hereditary lines. Pina-Cabral and Lourenço suggest that this goal is reached "namely through the Portuguese-language school-system". Often, due to the close proximity to the Portuguese, the Macanese closely identify themselves with Portuguese nationals as opposed to Chinese in the bi-cultural and bi-racial equation. In practice, however, being Macanese is left up to how individuals categorize themselves. Since the re-integration of Macau with the People's Republic of China in late 1999, the traditional definitions are in a state of re-formulation. Given the shifting political climate of Macau, some Macanese are coming to recognize and identify closer with a Chinese heritage.
Arts & Letters
- António Conceição Júnior - artist
- Deolinda da Conceição - writer http://www.arscives.com/Deolinda/introduction.htm
- Fernando Dias - writer
- Henrique de Senna FernandesHenrique de Senna FernandesHenrique de Senna Fernandes , was a Macanese writer. Born in 1923 as one of 11 siblings to an old Macanese family, whom settle in Macau over 250 years ago, he studied law at University of Coimbra before becoming a writer. His work, written in the Portuguese language, evokes the atmosphere of the...
- lawyer/writer - José dos Santos FerreiraJosé dos Santos FerreiraJosé dos Santos Ferreira, better known as Adé, was born in Portuguese Macau on 28 July 1919 and died in Hong Kong on 24 March 1993. Born to a father from metropolitan Portugal and a Macanese mother, he was the last poet of distinction to write in Macanese , the Portuguese-Cantonese creole.Adé lived...
- poet - Rui Manuel Silva Gomes do Amaral - Artist/Banker
- Alberto Estima de OliveiraAlberto Estima de OliveiraAlberto Estima de Oliveira was a Portuguese poet. He was born in Lisbon, moved to Benguela, Angola in 1957, and later to Guinea Bissau...
- poet - Maria Ondina Braga - writer
Entertainment
- 嘉碧儀 Cerina Filomena da GraçaCerina da GraçaCerina Filomena da Graça is an American actress of Macau Portuguese and Han Chinese descent. So, she can be considered Macanese. Da Graça was a contestant for Miss Hong Kong 2002, achieving third-runner up....
- Miss Hong KongMiss Hong Kong PageantThe Miss Hong Kong Pageant , or MSHK for short, is a beauty pageant organized by the leading Hong Kong television station, Television Broadcasts ....
finalist, actress - 鄭碧影 Bik-Ying Cheng - Cantonese opera & film actress in the 50s
- Joe JuniorJoe JuniorJoe Junior is a popular Hong Kong English pop singer from Hong Kong during the 1960s. He has since been in a number of TVB drama series in the 1990s and 2000s playing older character roles. Joe Junior is his stage name. Regularly appeared on TV music programs as host and as performer...
(actual name: Jose Maria Rodrigues Jr.) - veteran singer & TV actor - 賈思樂 Louie Castro - actor/singer from late 70s/80s
- Teresa Castro - singer from late 70s/80s, sister of Louie
- Ana Kuan Barroso - Miss Macau 2008 first runner-up & model
- 肥媽 Maria Cordeiro - singer/actress
- 黎芷珊 Maria Luisa Leitão - TV personality, niece of Clementina Leitão 黎婉華
- Uncle Ray (Ray CordeiroRay CordeiroReinaldo Maria "Uncle Ray" Cordeiro, BBS MBE is a Hong Kong media personality and a disc jockey of the Radio Television Hong Kong. He was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the World's Most Durable DJ” in 2000...
) - radio DJ - 童玲 Maria Tung Ling - Hong Kong actress
- The Pedruco SistersThe Pedruco SistersThe Pedruco Sisters is a family of 4 sisters who has competed at the Miss Chinese International pageant and Miss World pageant representing Macau. They are the only family of 3 or more sisters to compete at Miss World and Miss Chinese International...
- is a family of 4 MacaneseMacaneseMacanese may refer to:* Macanese people, the people of Macau* Macanese people , an ethnic group in Macau of mainly Portuguese, and some with African, Cantonese, South Asian, Southeast Asian or other origins...
sisters who have competed at the Miss Chinese International pageant and Miss World pageant representing Macau. - 李嘉欣 Michelle Monique ReisMichelle Reis-Biography:Reis was born in Macau which was then a Portuguese colony. Reis is of mixed ancestry as her father is Portuguese and her mother is Chinese. So, she can be considered as a macanese. Reis attended Maryknoll Convent School, and matriculated from St. Paul's Secondary School.Reis started...
- Miss Hong KongMiss Hong Kong PageantThe Miss Hong Kong Pageant , or MSHK for short, is a beauty pageant organized by the leading Hong Kong television station, Television Broadcasts ....
1988, socialite and actress - 梁洛施 Luisa Isabella Nolasco da SilvaIsabella LeongIsabella Leong Lok-Sze is a Hong Kong-based actress and former singer.- Career :Her father was a descendant of a prominent Macanese family of Portuguese-English heritage, and her mother is Chinese...
- Hong Kong-based actress, singer, and model - 夏健龍 Dino Acconci - Member of twin brother rock band duo SolerSoler (band)Soler is a Hong Kong-based rock duo originally from Macau formed by twin brothers Julio Acconci and Dino Acconci , Soler made their Hong Kong debut in early 2005...
- 夏利奧 Julio Acconci - Other member of twin brother rock band duo SolerSoler (band)Soler is a Hong Kong-based rock duo originally from Macau formed by twin brothers Julio Acconci and Dino Acconci , Soler made their Hong Kong debut in early 2005...
Politics, Military and Business
- Pedro José Lobo
- 羅保議員 (Sir Roger LoboRogerio Hyndman LoboSir Rogerio Hyndman "Roger" Lobo, CBE, JP is a Macanese businessman of Portuguese and Scottish descent and has been an active philanthropist and politician in Hong Kong....
) - former Hong Kong Legislative Council member, from the well known Macau Lobo family. - 黎婉華 Clementina Leitão - deceased wife of Stanley Ho, casino tycoon. Also a member of one of pre-WWII Macau's wealthiest families
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Vicente Nicolau de MesquitaVicente Nicolau de MesquitaVicente Nicolau de Mesquita was an officer of the Portuguese Army in Macau. He is widely remembered for his role at the Portuguese attack of Baishaling, Guangdong in 1849. He was the oldest of the five children of noted Macanese lawyer, Frederico Albino de Mesquita and Clara Esmeralda Carneiro -...
- a commander of a group of 36 Portuguese soldiers, who won the battle of PassaleãoBaishaling IncidentThe Baishaling Incident took place in August, 1849. Immediately after a Chinese mob assassinated Governor Ferreira do Amaral on August 22, Chinese Imperial troops mobilized on the Guangdong Province-Macau frontier. The Portuguese population of Macau viewed as an overtly threatening move by the...
, which was fought near the Portas do CercoPortas do CercoPortas do Cerco is an area on the Macau Peninsula , in the former Portuguese colony of Macau, now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, near the border checkpoint with the rest of the People's Republic of China at Gongbei, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province...
, against 400 Chinese soldiers, on August 25, 1849. - 歐安利 Leonel Alberto Alves, member of the Executive Council of Macau and the Chinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceChinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceThe Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
.