The Game of Capturing the Firecrackers

During every year's folk song fair on March 3rd, the most exciting activity is the game of Rush-snatching the Firecrackers. The competition is carried out by teams formed by vigorous men from each village. The so-called “firecracker” is actually an iron ring 5cm in diameter and wrapped with a red cloth. The firecracker is placed into small cannon charged with gunpowder in advance. After ignition, the firecracker is sent into the air with a loud “Bang!”. The teams from different villages then rush to snatch the falling firecracker before any member of an opposing team can do so. The player who gets the firecracker will—with the help of his teammates—try to break through the other team's line. They, on the other hand, will do everything they can to snatch the firecracker away from him and take it in the opposite direction.  The team, who can throw the firecracker into the other side's flower basket, wins the match. The snatches of the game are very intense and the play of the game is very rough, just like the Western game of rugby. Therefore, it is not surprising that this game is also informally called “Oriental rugby”.

Publishes at : 07-11-11 20:48

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