it's that time of year again (last day of lunar new year celebrations)
happy lantern festival, have some 湯圓s tonight!
today is the 15th day of the Lunar New Year which is mostly known for the lantern festival, which is nice family gathering enjoying savory Tang Yuans (湯圓) and lantern decorations are seen in many spots. However in the south of Taiwan (Tainan) there is a peculiar tradition called the Yanshui Beehive Festival (鹽水蜂炮) that happens on this day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jPrpOxYcPE
On the day of the lantern festival, people gather around a bunch of fireworks that shoot outward into the crowd. Get hit by a firework and you have good luck for the year. It's crazy and super dangerous
This is a tradition brought over to Taiwan in the 19th century by Ming Rebels/Pirates as a loyalty test and rite-of-passage, somehow this tradition became one of "hey, if i get hit by a lot of fireworks at the start of the year, i'll have good luck!".
Taiwanese are weird sometimes 🤣
Discussion
some other celebrations around the island (which arent nearly as cool as shooting fireworks at people) is the Yehliu Divine Harbor Purification Festival (野柳神明淨港). the brave souls jump into the cold ocean to clear out the ghosts and demons, these days it has even attracted tourists
this celebration is one of the "home-grown" traditions in Taiwan which originated when an intact unmanned ship floated into the harbor around 1820 after a bad storm, no one was onboard and among the effects on the ship was a statue of the ocean god. Puzzled but wary that bodies may start washing ashore, the villagers went to the nearby shrine to ask what to do.
a tradition was born to utilize the gods of the land to bless the harbor to ward off bad spirits and wandering ghosts. The remains of the ship was even made into parts of the shrine.
The celebration consists of bringing statues of the god into the water and then walk across fire on the way back (to scare off the bad spirits that might have hitched a ride in the water, duh 😂)
the mix of cultures in Taiwan makes lunar new year celebrations a lot of fun (and confusing). supernatural occurences made into traditions are a common occurence in Taiwanese culture
元宵节快乐
Thanks for posting more. Great stuff!