Sunday, January 11, 2015

New Year's first fire 新年的火焰

People make a huge tower-shaped object using bamboos after the New Year period lasted about two weeks. 在迎接新年後,各社區的人們用長竹做這樣大的一個塔。  到了晚上,和迎接了新年的吉祥物一塊燒掉這個塔。
In the evening, it is burnt with ornaments which were used to welcome New Year. 
Children bake rice cakes above its embers. Cakes are rounded and stuck to a branch. The aged say eating the cake baked with this special fire assures good health during the year. 孩子們都烤些插在小樹枝上的圓糕吃。圓糕叫繭玉,傳說吃了這個就能保證新一年裡的健康。


8 comments:

  1. A similar custom exists here marking the end of carnival.
    Happy, healthy, sparkling new year!
    Olympia

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  2. Hello Olympia,
    Thanks for your precious information. Humanity may have same divine images of fire in common.

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  3. Happy happy happy New Year to you. Love the custums you are writing about! Wonderful, and yes for sure, you can have a cup of tea!!!
    Elisabeth

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  4. Interesting information about the beautiful tradition !
    Greetings

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  5. What a nice tradition - in the UK they do a similar thing on the 5 November.
    Have a healthy 2015!
    Ingrid

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  6. Tante Mali
    Happy New Year! Have hot drinks in cold days.

    Ela
    People in the community cooperate to maintain this festival.

    Of Spring and Summer
    Oh! I will wait for your post about a similar one in this November.

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  7. Interesting. I just read of a similar new year tradition performed in Bologna, Italy.

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  8. Hello Denise Parsons,
    I do not know the roots of this folk custom. People will continue to build this tower.

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