The Epic Fireworks Blog

Archive for the ‘Chinese New Year’ Category

In the Bin Yang region of Nanning, Guangxi, China, they celebrate each Chinese New Year with a famous festival.

Held on the 11^th day of the Chinese New Year (also known as the Lunar New Year, or in China, just “The New Year”) Bin Yang is the central attraction of the whole province bringing in half a million locals and visitors to the region to join in the celebrations which include parades, floats (very American), lantern festival and of course the dragon dance in firecrackers.

This local festival has a centuries old history attached to it with its beginnings in the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), the development into something closer to what we see today happened during the Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644) and finding its place in history and in the cultural calendars of China in the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). In other words, it did not happen overnight. This is a festival that has grown and developed over the centuries to become what it is today and is steeped in history and culture. This is what has made the Bin Yang Firecracker Dragon Festival so intense and famous across China.

Now let’s see some firecracker dragon dancing!

Taipei Lantern Festival 2010 Sunday night closed with firework show, bringing 6 million visitors together during the 10-day session.

In the closing ceremony, fireworks lightened up the sky of Taipei, combining with water dance, laser lighting effect and floral fragrance to create a visual and acoustic feast.

The main lantern this year is “Tiger Hoki,” modeling the yearly Chinese animal sign, which means “fortunate Tiger” that would bring good fortune to this country.

In response to citizens’ wish to extend the installation of Tiger Hoki, Huang Lu Ching-ju, Commissioner of Department of Civil Affairs under Taipei City Government (TCG) said the main lantern would be relocated to the lawn area in front of Zih Ciang owing to high maintain costs.

The Lantern Festival, falling on the 15th day of the first lunar month, was widely celebrated in Taiwan from north to south, with different styles, such as the release of sky lantern in Pingsi, Taipei County, beehive firecrackers in Yanshui in Tainan County and Bombing Handan in Taitung.

This video is a great example of how not to behave if your fireworks stand decides to explode all around you.

rule 1. do not go back to the fireworks

rule 2. do not hang around

rule 3. do not assume that pulling a tarpaulin over the back of your truck will stop the fireworks in it blowing up

rule 4. for the love of god just run!

Counting fingers.

The New Year festival in China this year had fewer accidents than last year according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. Festivities took place all across China between the 13^th and 19^th February and in that time private parties and celebrations across China caused a total of 1,626 recorded accidents. This does sound like a lot but remember this is a country with about 1.3 Billion people in it, when you think of it like that; it doesn’t seem so bad and is apparently down 3.3% on last year.

Until you think of this, 11 deaths. 11 people died that week due to firework mishaps. Makes you think what the reaction would be like in the UK if 1 person died during Bonfire Night. Yet in China it is accepted as the norm. Although we must bear in mind that almost everyman and his dog set off fireworks in China. It’s ingrained in the culture since long before we had even heard of gunpowder in this country. So who are we to argue? Still with all these deaths and injuries and accidents you do have to wonder what is causing them all.

Well apparently, its firecrackers.

The majority of accidents were caused by firecrackers being handled incorrectly; this is despite increased efforts by police forces nationwide to monitor the production, transportation, storage and sale of this extremely popular form of fireworks. The key thing to note here is it is not through faulty firecrackers, it is through faulty use.

So it seems that the injuries and accidents come from the same source they do all round the world. Not through people using fireworks, but using them irresponsibly. The solution is not to ban firecrackers (good luck getting a ban in China, firecrackers have been used there for many centuries to scare off evil demons), rather the solution is to educate people on how to better use fireworks and make them safer, and therefore more enjoyable for everyone involved.

All too often a product is banned because it has been inappropriately used by someone. You cannot blame a gun for shooting someone nor a car for hitting a pedestrian, but all to often we hear people saying fireworks should be banned because someone has been injured. We all want to reduce accidents and make the world a safer place. The best way to make it safer is through education. Maybe we have something to learn still from the Chinese, the ancient culture that gave the world fireworks in the first place.

The capital’s Chinese New Year celebrations are set to transform central London on Sunday 21 February 2010.

Visitors to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and London Chinatown will be able to welcome in the Year of the Tiger in spectacular style – with Chinese arts and entertainment from international and home-grown artists, and food, firecrackers and fireworks.

In Trafalgar Square, two groups from China will perform world-class dance, music and acrobatics after an official opening ceremony. There will also be firecrackers, Chinese dragons, lions and Chinese acrobatics.

Meanwhile, in a specially decorated Chinatown there will be cultural stalls, food and lion dance displays. Shaftesbury Avenue will become ‘Hong Kong in London Chinatown’ with a stage featuring performances by local Chinese artists.

A colourful fireworks display in Leicester Square will close the celebrations. Running orders (subject to change)

Trafalgar Square Stage

• 11:15 Firecrackers
• 12:00 Opening ceremony begins with speeches
• 12:30 Doting Dragon’s Eyes
• 12:45 Dragon Dance
• 12:55 Lion Dance performance
• 13:10 Dance, music, acrobatics, martial arts performances by visiting Chinese artists
• 18:00 Ends

Chinatown

• 12:00-18:00 Lion dances around Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue
• 12:00-18:00 haftesbury Avenue Stage – Hong Kong In London Chinatown
• 12:00-16:00 Performances by local Chinese artists

Leicester Square

• 17:55 Fireworks and firecrackers

All locations

• 12:00-17:00 Stalls with a variety of wares

For further information please click here.