Today in Hong Kong I went to see the Fire Dragon, an annual event corresponding with the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival. This is a a 70 foot long dragon with incense sticks poking out all over, creating a smoking, glowing, undulating sight that parades through a small neighborhood in Wan Chai.
It is difficult to get a good vantage point to see as the area is totally crowded. There are also a lot of other participants: little girls in shiny outfits carrying lanterns, men holding big lanterns on the ends of staffs, and a banner is hoisted by young people from the neighborhood.
The dragon is kept aloft by several men, one positioned every few feet along the body of the dragon. A few of them are needed for the head. They are hot and sweaty and streaked with smoke. They have to switch out once in a while as the whole square is choking with the smoke.
The crowd, the yelling, the smoke, the glowing incense sticks, the weaving of the dragon through the crowd, down the street. It is an exciting part of Hong Kong heritage that I think few people even know about. I am coming back tomorrow for another show!
It is difficult to get a good vantage point to see as the area is totally crowded. There are also a lot of other participants: little girls in shiny outfits carrying lanterns, men holding big lanterns on the ends of staffs, and a banner is hoisted by young people from the neighborhood.
The dragon is kept aloft by several men, one positioned every few feet along the body of the dragon. A few of them are needed for the head. They are hot and sweaty and streaked with smoke. They have to switch out once in a while as the whole square is choking with the smoke.
The crowd, the yelling, the smoke, the glowing incense sticks, the weaving of the dragon through the crowd, down the street. It is an exciting part of Hong Kong heritage that I think few people even know about. I am coming back tomorrow for another show!
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