What folk activity is dragon burning in Qiao Lin Township, Jieyang, Chaoshan area?

Burning dragons is also a folk activity with a long history in Qiao Lin Township, Jieyang, and it is also the biggest folk art activity in Jieyang.

According to its traditional custom, every year from the second day of the first lunar month, Youlong begins to welcome spring and burn dragons on the tenth night of the first lunar month. Colorful dragons filled with fireworks were lifted by a group of strong young men. When the dragon lantern is lit, it dances with the sound of gongs and drums, firecrackers, fireballs and fireworks, which is colorful and spectacular.

In addition, the weather was still very cold when the dragon was burned, and the dragon dancers only wore shorts and painted with vegetable oil. Under the fireworks, the whole body glows red, which is another spectacle when burning dragons.

The activity of burning dragons is to pray for good weather and good harvests.

According to records, in the Ming Dynasty, there was a custom of dancing dragon in Qiao Lin Township. Every year from the first day of the first month to the tenth day of the first month, the dragon dance is divided into several stages. On the first day of New Year's greetings, the Dragon Ball will lead the way, and the strong man will hold the dragon high, followed by gongs, drums and strings. Along the way, the dragon dancers pranced and swayed. Wherever they go, they are greeted and entertained by their elders.

On the fourth day of the first month, Youlong Lantern is a colorful dragon with thick bamboo sticks tied into a skeleton and rotating flexibly. Lights and candles are placed on each node, and the dragon body is transparent and colorful. Youlong swam in front, accompanied by dragons, gongs and drums, and string bands, and walked through the streets with melodious music.

On the road, firecrackers crackled, gongs and drums clanged, suona rang and flutes sounded sweet. Whenever they stop, they will play the music of the Spring Festival, and sincere women will go to the Dragon Field to burn incense and respectfully invite the leading candles to go home and make a fortune. That night, several dragon lanterns shuttled through the town, and the scene was spectacular and jubilant everywhere.

On the tenth day of the first month: the colorful dragon, armed by fireworks craftsmen, looks magnificent, heroic and full of vitality. The dragon dance team composed of more than 20 burly and strong young people carried the dragon to the open field very early. According to the traditional custom, a strong man with a dragon must fast and bathe that night to show his respect.

The dragon bearer must also go into battle shirtless, wearing only shorts and a bamboo hat without leaves. Shorts and bamboo hats must also be soaked in water for a long time, so that it is not easy to light fireworks. The faucet is also equipped with a strong and experienced person who holds the dragon's neck with three steel forks to help the faucet move when burning the dragon.

As night falls, the Dragon Slaughterhouse is surrounded by a sea of people, men and women, old and young, dressed luxuriantly and holding their breath. Suddenly I heard a salute and the dragon burning began! The village elders in robes lit the fire line, one dragon at a time. Fireworks exploded.

The colorful dragon slowly circled the field three times, and firecrackers exploded and cheered. Athletes hold high the Dragon Ball, and under the attraction of the Dragon Ball, they run around the field, simulating Youlong's prancing action in running.

The faster people run, the more fireworks burn. As a result, colorful golden beads were spit out from the colorful dragon mouth, and colorful and radiant sparks were sprayed around the dragon body; With a wave of the dragon's tail, I saw the rocket rise into the sky, "falling" flashing, and "fire bucket" spinning and circling. The scene was full of fire, and the trees were silver flowers, which were strange and beautiful.