People protective gear near the fireworks explosion
yanshui is a small town in the south of taiwan that puts on a fireworks festival every year in conjunction with the chinese lantern festival. in addition to impressive firework displays all weekend long, firecrackers are also shot directly into the crowd.
the origin of this tradition dates back to the end 19th century - residents of yanshui were plagued by disease and when they prayed to their god for help, they were advised to parade statues of him through the streets while setting off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. the residents followed the instructions which ended the plague, and every year since participants aim to be hit by firecrackers to welcome good luck for the upcoming year.
this clip was taken by me at the most recent festival and gives a pretty good idea of what the experience is like. folks dress up in protective equipment consisting of motorcycle helmets and fire-retardant jackets, and gather as close as they can to the firecracker cannons. despite the minor burns and bruises, this was one of the most exciting nights of my life.
i have a ton more clips to share if needed!
02/29/2024
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