14 Track 14

Unit 5

celebrations around the world

Chapter 2

Travel Diary: Yanshuei Fireworks Festival

Page 87

Travel Diary: Yanshuei Fireworks Festival

By Michael Liu

I just returned from the most amazing experience of my life at the Yanshuei fireworks festival.

After spending some time with family in Taipei celebrating Chinese New Year, I’m staying the weekend with friends in Tainan, in the south of Taiwan.

Last night my old roommate Lin invited me to a fireworks festival in the city of Yanshuei. Since we were going to a fireworks festival, I assume that I should pack a blanket and maybe some snacks for a picnic while we watched the fireworks.

Naturally, I was surprised when Lin gave me an old sweatshirt, gloves, a towel, and a motorcycle helmet.

When I asked why I needed these old clothes he smiled and said, “You’ll see”.

According to legend, in the 17th century a terrible plague had been making the people of Yanshuei ill for years and no one could find a cure.

When some citizens suggested that perhaps there were evil spirits in the town, the people decided to ask the war god, Guan Yu, to come and drive away the evil spirits.

The people impressed Guan Yu with a huge fireworks display and in return, he drove out the spirits that had been plaguing the town.

Today the fireworks festival is an annual event to honor and thank Guan Yu.

When we arrived in Yanshuei, we saw many preparations being made for the festival, which starts after sunset and goes on all night.

Near the center of town, we were greeted by the side of large walls with many holes and open boxes facing in all directions.

Lin told me that the local word for these walls means “beehive,” and that they would be filled with fireworks for the celebration. I suddenly realized that I needed the extra clothes, gloves and helmet to protect myself from the fireworks!

I looked around and noticed workers stuffing the beehives with fireworks of all kinds. Lin could see what I was thinking and he said that many people are injured by fireworks at this festival every year.

I soon saw that a few participants wear very little protection from the fireworks and receive many burns to the skin.

Nevertheless, we went to the main site where the fireworks would be lit. A group of people were worshiping a statue of Guan Yu in front of a small beehive.

After they sang a prayer, they took the statue away and the crowd pushed forward. Lin said, “Put on your helmet and hop up and down a little when it starts. “His advice was confusing, but when a man started to light the beehive everyone started hopping, so I joined in.

Moments later, rockets were screaming, booming and popping in all directions. Fireworks collided with my helmet and bounced off my body. I closed my eyes and all I could smell was smoke from the explosions.

It was over in a few seconds, but it felt much longer. I realized that the hopping was to shake off any fireworks that might get stuck and burn you.

My heart was racing and I could feel a big smile on my face as I caught my breath and brushed myself off.

That beehive was the first of many and each one seemed more amazing than the last.

Now I understood the name ”beehive” − the sound of the fireworks became a constant buzzing in my ears.

When we got home, we changed and left our clothes outside because they smelled of smoke.

Each of us had small burns and cuts from being hit with so many fireworks, but as we sat around the table eating a late dinner, we all felt we’d just had a great adventure.

End CD 1