China News Agency, Putian, Fujian, February 4th: Folk carnivals staged in many places in Fujian convey a strong "New Year flavor"
Author Ye Qiuyun
"The firecrackers are ringing, and the bench dragon circle lights pass by the front of the house. This is the taste of the New Year." The Lantern Festival of the Year of the Rabbit is approaching, and the Spring Festival finale "big show" in Bangtou Town, Xianyou County, Putian City, Fujian Province-Banxie On the evening of the 3rd, the Lantern Festival with dragon circle lanterns was staged in Quanshan Community. Local resident Liu Qingli expressed emotion.
During the activity, the local people hold bench lamps in their hands or shoulders, and line them up one by one. There are 6 to 8 lanterns on each bench, and the boards are connected to form a team of praying lanterns.
Starting from the China Classical Crafts Expo City, the team paraded along Zitan Street, Longteng Road, Qingyuan Road and other "Xianzuo" industrial agglomeration areas, forming several long dragons, stretching for nearly 10 miles, which was spectacular.
When I was young, I watched the lights with my parents, and when I grew up, I started to hold lights. Liu Qingli is a "loyal fan" of the bench dragon circle lights.
She said that since she held up the lamp that belonged to her at the age of 16, she has been reluctant to put it down for more than 30 years.
200 kilometers away, the Jinshui Palace Temple Fair (Excessive Fire) in Luoyuan County, Fuzhou City is also performing the "Fujian-style Carnival" heartily, and there is an endless stream of "fans" watching "Excessive Fire".
At the event site, local people in Luoyuan County surrounded a huge circular "Guohuocheng" - about 30 meters in diameter and 50 centimeters in height, made of more than 700 baskets of charcoal.
The so-called "excessive fire" means that people walk barefoot through the "blanket" made of charcoal fire step by step, in order to pray to the gods for peace and good luck.
"'Guohuo' means to be popular and prosperous." You Duanxin, one of the organizers of Luoyuan County Jinshui Palace Temple Fair (Guohuo) event, said that Luoyuan's custom believes that "going too hot" can eliminate disasters and eliminate filth. Exorcising evil spirits, keeping the environment peaceful, and having a good harvest.
Traditional folk activities are entrusted with Chinese blessing culture.
Every year on the tenth and twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month, Houfu Village, Tantou Town, Changle District, Fuzhou City, the hometown of overseas Chinese, will hold traditional folk activities to wander the gods. It has a history of more than 400 years.
During the event, the team of wandering gods surrounded the streets and alleys with people who stood up to the gods, and it lasted until the early morning of the next day. The villagers used this to pray for the prosperity of the country and the people's safety and good weather.
In order to allow overseas Chinese abroad to see folk activities with the characteristics of their hometown, Lin Xing, a young man born in the 90s, broadcast live the traditional folk activities.
He said that through the live broadcast, overseas Chinese abroad can find "nostalgia" and feel the changes in their hometown.
"Although overseas Chinese are in a foreign country, their hearts are in their hometown." Lin Jinlong, chairman of the Canadian Chinese Entrepreneurs Association, said that China has a wealth of traditional folk activities, and each place has its own characteristics.
Overseas Chinese love their ancestors (native) country and hometown, and have brought Chinese traditional folk culture to all parts of the world, building a bridge of foreign communication and exchange.
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