Let me start with the conclusion after attending this festival: Taiwanese people are crazy but Catalans are not far behind :)
The celebrations of Chinese New Year end on the 15th day of the year (this time it was February 17th) and big events are held everywhere in Taiwan. Last year we joined the Pingxi al Lantern Festival, this year I decided to join the Yanshui Beehive Rockets Festival (at the south of Taiwan, not far from the former capital Tainan). It is one of the most well known festivals in Taiwan and it attracts people from all around the island and a decent number of tourists too.
In order to simplify the logistics of the event I joined an organized tour from LionTravel. At the meeting point I introduced myself to another foreigner (there were only 3 in total, including me) and he was Jean. He works at LionTravel as Product Planning, but because of his addiction to risky sports and adventures he’s regularly present at Taiwanese TV. You can get an idea by watching the YouTube videos where he appears. He was the ideal pal for this adventure.
After a long bus ride we arrived on time at Yanshui. After lunch (eating is always first in Taiwan) we had time to tour around the town to get familiar with the streets, visit few temples and get a glimpse of what the night festival will be like…
Here they prepare one of the batteries of rockets
Aquí preparen una de les bateries de coets01-Jan-2006 13:14, CASIO COMPUTER CO.,L EX-Z60 , 3.1, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec
Right before the sunset, in a kind of procession/parade, groups from all the temples of the city reach the main temple to salute the big boss (quite similar to what Taiwanese families do during Chinese New Year). That started to be interesting… do not miss the videos (and turn on the speakers!)
The big guy
L'amo de tot plegat01-Jan-2006 16:02, CASIO COMPUTER CO.,L EX-Z60 , 3.6, 8.44mm, 0.01 sec
I love these big head guys. Don't miss the video
M'encanten aquests capgrossos. No us perdeu el video01-Jan-2006 15:44, CASIO COMPUTER CO.,L EX-Z60 , 5.9, 18.9mm, 0.008 sec
The history behind this festival began in the late 19th century. A cholera epidemic broke out about 1875 and the town of Yanshui was hit hard by it. After several years, the population had dwindled and the people decided to call on Guan Di, the god of war, to help give them strength in their fight against the disease. They used fireworks to attract the attention of the the god, and have been doing so ever since.
To attend the festival and avoid getting injured you must be well protected. We spent late afternoon preparing our shield. I decided to look for protection from Gifré “el Pilós” and I draw a senyera on my shield. The recommended protection includes full helmet, towel around your neck, gloves, long sleeves and various layers of clothes.
Jean and other LionTravel co-workers attending the media
Jean i altres treballadors del LionTravel amb la premsa01-Jan-2006 15:49, CASIO COMPUTER CO.,L EX-Z60 , 3.1, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec
The festival takes places with a number of parades going around Yanshui at the same time (so you need to decide which one to join at what time). The parades carry images of gods/saints in small carriages. At well know points of their route (temples, factories, squares, etc.) there will be fireworks, firecrackers and batteries with thousands of rocket beehive. It starts around 19:00 and it last until well after midnight, so there is enough time to get burnt, hit and exhausted.
Even the images and videos are spectacular it is impossible to illustrate the feeling of being in the middle of the rockets.
Being kicked out as it is going to fire off (and we are in the front row!)
Em fan fora ja que ho encenen tot seguit (i nosaltres a primera linea!)01-Jan-2006 21:01, CASIO COMPUTER CO.,L EX-Z60 , 3.1, 6.3mm, 0.017 sec
Brutal. Qualsevol protecció és poca. Sort de l’escut català.
Abili i Carme
Hola Abili papa!!! Que tal? ^^
Doncs sí, superades les expectatives! Jo m’hi moro en una cosa així…diversions d’alt risc!
Flipa! Un correfoc amb casc de moto! Ha de ser bèstia per força! XD
Sobretot pels coets que tiren contra la gent :)
Verge santa! Ai senyor!!! ui la Senyera!!
Però perquè us agrada tant el foc!!
Que qui juga amb foc es pixa al llit!!!
Eiiii que us volem veure sans i estalvis
o plens de sants i estalvis,
però us volem veure!!!
I ves-te treient del cap de córrer als Sanfermines aquests!!
:-/