In Tai Hang area, in CauseWay Bay district, fire dragon dances are performed over three nights.
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A few days before Mid-Autumn festival in 1880, a powerful typhoon struck
Hong Kong.
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| 2006 Tai Hang fire dragon |
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A huge python entered Tai Hang village and was killed by villagers. A few days later cholera broke out in the village. The python was the son of Dragon King.
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As the Dragon was scared of fire, the villagers danced with a fire dragon for three
nights continously to threaten him and stop the Cholera.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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Villagers are making a big fire dragon made of straw and put burning incense
all over the dragon's body.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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Villagers dance with the fire dragon, roam through all the lanes of Tai Hang village.
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Since year 1880, until today, villagers have maintained the custom
every Mid-Autumn festival.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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The Dragon is 220 feet long and has a team of 120 dancers. It
consists of the head, a body made of 32 segments and a tail.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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It is preceded by two dancing Dragon Pearls or "Lung Chu" whose purpose is to attract the Dragon forward.
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The Dragon is accompanied by a noisy drum and clashing cymbals that are
running behing him.
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The Dragon is accompanied as well as by banners and costumed children
carrying lanterns.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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This custom has been followed
every year since 1880, with the exception of the Japanese Occupation
and during the 1967 disturbances.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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Until recent years female participation was limited to the cutting of grass. Ladies were
not allowed to touch the Dragon and they were not admitted during
the Dragon's visit to the Lin Fa Kung Temple. Nowadays young ladies can be seen
holding the Dragon.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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Each evening during three nights, the Tai Hang fire dragon dance
last around three hours.
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Each evening, the burning incense sticks are changed once.
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| Tai Hang fire dragon |
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