THE YEAR OF THE OX - CHINESE NEW YEAR 2009

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People play with fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year just before midnight in Beijing on January 25, 2009 between the city's ancient Drum (not pictured) and Bell (rear) towers. Millions across Asia are celebrating the Year of the Ox which begins on January 26.

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Artists dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes take part in a performance to worship heaven and pray for good harvests, at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on January 26, 2009. China gave the Lunar New Year a raucous welcome with parties, feasts and thousands of tonnes of firecrackers, but the mood was far from bullish as the nation ushered in the Year of the Ox.

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Actors prepare for a performance during Chinese New Year celebrations at the Dongyue Temple Fair on January 26, 2009 in Beijing, China. Millions of Chinese geared up to welcome the Year of the Ox, packing temple fairs, setting off fireworks and firecrackers and hurrying to train and bus stations to get home for the traditional holiday.

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Chinese burn joss-sticks as they offer prayers at a temple during the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing, China, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. China greeted the arrival Monday of the Year of the Ox with fireworks and celebrations, bidding farewell to 2008 marked by a massive earthquake, the Olympics, and a global economic crisis.

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Worshippers burn incense sticks as part of the New Year of the Ox celebration in Hong Kong on January 26, 2009. Millions across Asia are celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Ox which begins on January 26.

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Actors dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes take part in an opening ceremony for the Ditan Temple Fair in Beijing on January 25, 2009. The annual fair opened to celebrate the Year of the Ox one day ahead of the start of the new Lunar New Year.

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Worshippers throw firecrackers at a shirtless man acting as Master Handan during the Handan ritual on Yuan-Hsiao, the 15th day after the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Taidung February 9, 2009.

(Nicky Loh
/Reuters)









                                                 Blast away bad luck with fireworks ritual
         





Ralph Jennings –
Mon Feb 9, 2009
TAITUNG,
Taiwan
(Reuters)

– Being burned by fireworks is considered a stroke of bad luck, but for Taiwanese who willingly subject themselves to an explosive barrage, it's all about good fortune.

In one of Taiwan's wildest but least-known rituals to mark the Lunar New Year, five men in the southern city of Taitung asked to be showered with fireworks, and were burned by them.

Traditionally, the targets endure the pain to get rid of evil spirits and change their luck for the year ahead. Today, the men let themselves get burned to show strength and bring prosperity to the local merchant who hired them.

"I'm a thug, and I want to become an official," joked Chen Chin-yi about why he volunteered for a 25th year to get burned in the smoky annual Han Dan ritual. "I won't go to the hospital. I treat my wounds at friends' homes."

The ritual's namesake, Han Dan, is said to be a god of wealth who likes fire but fears the cold, so believers throw firecrackers to please him.

Chen emerged from the ritual with small burns all over his tattooed, largely unclothed body after letting about 30 men throw wads of firecrackers at him while he rode on a sedan carriage. About 1,000 people watched from the street.

This year, a local jeweler hired Chen and the other four men to improve its own fortunes.

"For us, this is to welcome more business," said Hu Dai-fen, 48, whose family runs the shop that requested the show, paying about T$70,000 ($2,100) for the fireworks and the gold medals given out to the wounded volunteers.

All the men were "bombed" for about two minutes each as onlookers applauded, while ducking the flaming debris of firecrackers that missed their marks.

"There is a danger. Sometimes these guys can't walk for a week," said Wang Cheng-fu, an event coordinator. "But one who's experienced can last for more than 10 minutes."

Despite the risks, Taitung, population 240,000, has allowed the ritual to be held for most of the past 50 years and has even started to promote it as a tourist attraction.

Some spectators go just for a blast. Others see the event as maintaining tradition.

"In the past few years the Lunar New Year atmosphere has become diluted, but this won't be forgotten by our children," said Taitung resident Chuang Shu-fen.

Han Dan rituals began this year in Taitung from Friday with local government-sponsored shows that try not to burn anyone.

Taiwan is a hotbed of traditional Chinese culture, honoring the two-week festivities that mark the beginning of the Lunar New Year with mass displays of lanterns, a cow-themed light show for Year of the Ox and other fireworks displays.



(Editing by Miral Fahmy)

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Lantern festival :

People admire lanterns on display in Taipei city as Taiwan celebrates the Chinese Lantern Festival for the
Year of Ox.

(AFP/
Patrick Lin)

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Worshippers throw firecrackers at a shirtless man acting as Master Handan during the Handan ritual on           Yuan-Hsiao, the 15th day after the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Taidung February 9, 2009.


(Nicky Loh/
Reuters)

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A couple pose in front of some decorations in Hong Kong Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Lantern Festival. The Spring Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the first month on the lunar calendar marks the end of two-week long Chinese New Year celebration. The Festival is also referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day because lantern markets were a favourite meeting place for young couples.

(AP Photo/
Vincent Yu)