It is a recreational activity of the folks who pray for good weather, national stability and happiness of all peoples. Running Folk-Tale Pageant is divided into two parts (races). The first part is held on the fourteenth day of the first month of the lunar year. It begins at around 10 A.M. that day with children in opera costumes standing on a sedan chair carried by 22 young adults, surrounded by Buddha sedan chairs, Wanmin umbrellas, colored flags, and ten-instrument drum corps, with guns being fired all the way and tens of thousands of villagers and tourists looking on. It ends when the Canopy of Heaven Palace is out of joint with that of Folk-Tale.
For the second part held on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year, the parade of Folk-Tale marches towards the stream in the village, then the drum corps splash water to each other to get wet through, then three guns are fired, the Canopy of Folk-Tale swarms into water, and walks against the current. The fierce competition goes on despite the cold weather, deep water, and slippery river stones and they rise if they fall down to the river. It does not end until they arrive at the goal. With people seeking fun and improving their health, it is a unique sports and recreational activity for celebrating Chinese New Year. |