When you are preparing to travel somewhere, it is very easy to get the information on the internet. Maybe because they won’t stay for a long time, most people are concerned about the delicious food and famous spots. But if you visit at the right time, you may have more special experiences than others. Like the Songkran Festival in Thailand, Taiwan also have some exciting, interesting, cultural activities.
If you go to Taiwan for The Lantern Festival, usually in February, there is a very big celebration at Yanshui town in Tainan city. Yanshui Beehive Fireworks was voted as one of the top three religious activities in the world. The residents of the town prepare the festival for at least one month. They make a lot of forts, from 2-20 meters, filled with firecrackers. On the 15th of January, at the start of the Lunar month, they push out all the forts everywhere in the town. In the afternoon, the God is paraded around the town then they light the firecrackers when the God’s sedan passes by. The people who join this active suit up in helmets, coats, jeans and everything that can cover themselves well. They stand in front of the forts to be hit by the firecrackers. It’s said that this will drive away all the bad things and bring luck for the coming year.
The next biggest religious activity in Taiwan is held every March, when about 70% of Taiwanese participate in the Matsu Pilgrimage Procession. Matsu is one of the Chinese Sea Goddesses and every Taiwanese learns about her story. Like a family gathering, she will go to another temple to meet her sister. Over 300 thousand people join the parade every year. Over 9-11 days, we walk about 250-400 km to accompany Matsu to the party. Along the journey, Matsu is going to pray, bless or treat shops or people, for the followers, you can get some food or drinks anytime, which the volunteers deliver at the road side. Some say that every Taiwanese should join this procession at least once in their life. If you just want to experience it and have fun you can choose Dajia Matsu Pilgrimage Procession or if you want a more mysterious miracle you must join the Baishatun Matsu Pilgrimage.
We believe that let the sedan pass by will bring good luck.
All the photos courtesy of http://www.tainanlohas.com/blog/post/266873659-%E4%B8%BB%E7%82%AE%E5%96%9C%E6%B4%8B%E6%B4%8B-%E9%B9%BD%E6%B0%B4%E8%9C%82%E7%82%AE3-4-3-5%E6%97%A5%E7%99%BB%E5%A0%B4
Eric, Intermediate Class
Taiwan NO.1
Fascinating!