So unique is this event that in the last 27 years I’ve been on this quirky planet, I’ve not seen nor even aware this cultural spectacular of Hong Kong existed! Better late than never, though first a little history:
Over a century ago (1880 in fact), Tai Hang was a (Hakka) village whose inhabitants lived off of farming and fishing. A few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival a typhoon and then a plague wreaked havoc on the village. While the villagers were repairing the damage, a python entered the village and ate their livestock. According to some villagers, the python was the son of the Dragon King. The only way to stop the havoc which had beset their village was to dance a fire dance for three days and nights during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. The villagers made a big fire dragon of straw and stuck incense into the dragon. They lit firecrackers. They danced for three days and three nights and the plague disappeared.
Pity fire-crackers are no longer allowed in urban Hong Kong though the Fire Dragon is rather mighty all by itself… Enjoy! :D
Now this is a very subtle way of showing that you have new pictures!… ;-)))
Comment by spoxy — 08:19:55 UTC on the 30th of September, 2005
I am Emperor of Subtle! Though the “funny” thing is that there are another 2332 (and counting) travelling piccies to come…
Comment by Jonathan Stanley — 08:25:01 UTC on the 30th of September, 2005