Folk customs in Guozhai Town

Guo Zhai candle was called "a unique skill in China, a giant wax in Guo Zhai" by Mr. Yan Jici, former vice chairman of the National People's Congress. It is a kind of craft wax in Guozhai Town, Dongyang, the hometown of various works. According to the records of Dongyang City Records, Guo Zhai's big candle is more than ten feet high, with a cross-sectional diameter of about feet and a weight of four or five hundred Jin. It is painted with vermilion and dragons and phoenixes, with two * * *. On the 18th day of the first month of each year, an exhibition is held at the Anqing Temple Fair in Guozhai, which burns continuously for more than 300 days.

Big candles are exquisite in craftsmanship and have a long history. It is the result of the integration of wood carving, wax making, plastic piling, paper cutting and national culture. In the exhibition, folk martial arts, folk music, folk dragon dancing, etc. are also integrated, making it a folk boutique with entertainment, appreciation and appreciation value, and it has the reputation of being one of the "four big" folk entertainments in Dongyang.

Guo Zhai candle originated in Yongle period of Ming Dynasty. On the 18th day of the first month of every year, the temple fair will hold the activity of holding big candles. In front of Guo Zhai's big candle, there are 8 green knife flags, 8 big lanterns, 1 drums, 8 pioneers, 8 fire knives, 16 cymbals, 36 deacons' weapons, 30 centipede flags, 24 shields and broadswords, 40 big gongs, 8 light doors and 3 classes of folk music performances. There are two big candles at the back, which are 5 meters high, 50 centimeters in cross-sectional diameter and weigh more than 500 kilograms. Each big candle is held by 32 strong men. There is a resplendent Panlong on the left candle and a Cai Feng dancing on the right candle.