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Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 17956141)
Feb 6 must be one of those special days because the locals (in Shanghai) started scaring off the evil spirits at midnight, and have yet to let up.
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Originally Posted by jiejie
Well, I wouldn't want you to feel left out. How about I round up all the delinquents within 200 m of my building, and bring them all over to your building so they can light up outside and fire away all night long, just for you!
Originally Posted by tauphi
(Post 17958301)
It's the first full moon of the new year.
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Lots of fireworks & crackers going off round Central Park last night even up until midnight and they are going off right now all over. We're heading out in a while to Sanlitun so will be interesting to see how mad it all gets! I have to say, having just had 3 nights in Hong Kong, it was a relief to get away from all the noise & explosions at all times of day & night :D
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Just walking home from work last night was like (what I imagine) navigating a warzone.
This cannot be driven by fun or enjoyment, but a deep superstition that somehow all the noise is auspicious. Can't otherwise explain it. Nonetheless, has been rather an eye-opener! tb |
Originally Posted by trueblu
(Post 17965779)
This cannot be driven by fun or enjoyment, but a deep superstition that somehow all the noise is auspicious. Can't otherwise explain it.
tb |
Originally Posted by trueblu
(Post 17965779)
Just walking home from work last night was like (what I imagine) navigating a warzone.
This cannot be driven by fun or enjoyment, but a deep superstition that somehow all the noise is auspicious. Can't otherwise explain it. Nonetheless, has been rather an eye-opener! tb tb - the legend of the lunar new year is that people were terrorised by this monster called 'nian', who had to be chased away by loud loud noises, hence the fireworks/crackers. http://chineseculture.about.com/libr.../aa010900a.htm The legend says, long ago, there was a monster called Nian. It was born to be very ugly and ferocious, which looked like either dragons or unicorns. On the first and the 15th of each lunar month, the monster would come down from the mountains to hunt people. So people were very much afraid of it and locked their doors early before sunset on the days of its coming. There lived an old wise man in a village. He thought it was the panic in people that made the monster so bold and furious. Thus the old man asked people to organize together and to conquer the monster by means of beating drums and gongs, burning bamboo, and lighting fireworks in purpose of making large noises to threaten the hateful monster. When he told people about the idea, everybody agreed on it. At a moonless and freezing cold night, the monster, Nian, appeared again. The moment it opened its mouth at people, burst out the frightening noises and fire made by people, and wherever the monster went, it was forced to back off by the terrible noises. The monster couldn't stop running until he fell down with exhaustion. Then people jumped up and killed the evil monster. Savage as the monster was, he lost in the end under the efforts from the cooperation of people. |
CNY 2013 ?
Abet early for 2013, so i will let one of the 'ambassadors' start the 2013 CNY post.
But, a ? about this year, Are the fireworks for Lantern festival better in BJ, or SH ?? In 2013 its on sunday feb. 24th. I ask as i just returned to BJ with my new one year 'F' visa, i tried for the 2 year in Chicago, but failed. anyway the one year expires on Jan. 31st, 2013... So, in terms of CNY calendar management; & the Feb. 3rd SUPER BOWL.. -2013 ,CNY eve is saturday Feb. 9th, CNY is on a sunday feb. 10th, the year of the snake, or as some say, the little dragon. -2013 spring festival days are Feb. 11-15. -the null days of the 2013 spring festival are 16-21st. -2013 Lantern Festival is a sunday, Feb. 24th... So in 2013 i will miss CNY eve, but to enjoy some spring festival fireworks on Lantern festival, was wondering which city to plan a return to in 2013 ?, SH or BJ ??. Thanks |
Originally Posted by anacapamalibu
(Post 17966002)
Can't knock success, sure has brought good fortune in the last 10-15 years.
Originally Posted by fimo
(Post 17966344)
Hah! Exactly how I felt too when I wasn't paying attention and caught myself heading straight towards a box of lit fireworks.
tb - the legend of the lunar new year is that people were terrorised by this monster called 'nian', who had to be chased away by loud loud noises, hence the fireworks/crackers. tb |
Originally Posted by trueblu
(Post 17972930)
Although if I were being cheeky, given that gunpowder and fireworks were invented by the Chinese 1400 years ago, there is zero correlation between the recent rise of China and how much crazy pyrotechnics one engages in. In fact, one can argue that given it took Europeans a very short time to steal the technology, and use it for massive firepower against the Chinese, fireworks brought about the opposite of good fortune...
tb |
Originally Posted by trueblu
(Post 17972930)
Thanks fimo, am familar with the legend. But e.g. in the UK, 'fireworks night' is to commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plotters. But people, although familiar with the story, just want to watch a pretty show. Here, the massive craziness can only be explained by a genuine feeling that 'nian' is very much alive and well!
tb |
Originally Posted by anacapamalibu
(Post 17973353)
Discovery time to actual use 500 years, hardly a very short time.
Anyway, this is going OT and towards OMNI...let's just agree the Chinese enjoy the noise-making properties of gunpowder and similar pyrotechnics. tb |
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