Meizhou Bay
Text
Taiwan up close
Mazu culture Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown. She is none other than the world-renowned Mazu, goddess of the sea. The respect for Mazu has turned into a wide-spread belief with the passage of time. Following the footprints of sea merchants and overseas Chinese, Mazu went out of Fujian. The belief in Mazu has become a sort of transnational folk belief with more than 100 million worshippers. For geographical and historical reasons, the belief in Mazu at Taiwan has turned out to be a popular belief. According to statistics, around two-thirds of the population in Taiwan believe in Mazu, and more than 500 Mazu temples are scattered on the island. In the wake of improving relations between both sides of the Straits, tens of thousands of Taiwan compatriots swarmed to the Meizhou Island to dedicate their piety at Mazu temples to fulfil their sincere wish which they had cherished for decades. The unique Mazu Pilgrim Tour will undoubtedly breakthrough the artificial hedge standing between the people on both sides of the Straits. Wedding traditions In Taiwan, there is a diversity of wedding ceremonies varying with nationalities and cultural backgrounds, but in general, all wedding ceremonies are either traditional or modern. Traditional wedding ceremonies are still influential in Taiwan, because most Taiwanese are descendants of migrants from Fujian, Guangdong and other places of Chinese mainland. In the development and construction of Taiwan, the ancestors firmly preserved cultural customs they had brought from their hometowns to Taiwan, and passed the customs down from generation to generation. Classic activities of a traditional wedding ceremony include presenting betrothal gifts, sitting in a bridal sedan chair, worshipping Heaven and Earth, paying obeisance to parents and to each other, and teasing the newlywed in the wedding night. Although the newlywed are dressed in a western style, the wedding ceremony is absolutely Chinese from presenting candies, lighting cigarettes, serving tea to collecting lucky money. Nowadays, a lot of young people choose to get married in a modern style. A modern wedding ceremony is a combination of joy and happiness with bridal veil, fireworks, groom and bride, and a number of guests. Besides, there are many collective wedding ceremonies in Taiwan. A lot of young couples, whether from Taipei, Taichung or Tainan, choose to participate in a collective wedding ceremony where people share common wishes for a bright future. Gift giving Taiwan is a great gift-giving society. When you visit someones house for dinner, it is customary to bring a gift. This may be some fruit, a box of chocolates, some pastries, or a bottle of wine. One shared gift is acceptable, and maybe some small items for the kids will be enough to score some brownie points. While most small gifts can be bought in Taiwan, it may be a good idea to bring a few small gifts with you form home to give special friends you will develop. It must be noted that the Taiwanese are generally big on brand names and 'designer' items. When you present a gift, tradition dictates that it be presented with two hands and received with two hands (the same is true for name cards and anything else exchanged at a social occasion). The host will usually not open the present in your presence unless you request them to do so. When opening the gift in the host's presence, it is important to open the package carefully to avoid ripping and crumpling the paper. The wrapping paper should be folded up and put aside, not ripped open and promptly disposed of as is usual in other cultures. For nice presents it is recommended to wrap it carefully as appearance is important. There's plenty of wrapping paper available in Taiwan. You can find some as well as gifts at Watson's stores or at a bookstore. When giving a gift, it is often customary to demean it's value by saying something like, "It's just a small gift to show my appreciation". taboos: 1. hand towels:In the past, the family who held a funeral would give hand towels to people who paid a condolence call, intending to break off their relations with the deceased. 2. fans: Cheap and fragile, fans are used to relieve summer heat. Since it gets cooler by late autumn, there is an idiom called "Qiushan Jianqian" (literally, to put away the fan in autumn). 3. scissors: scissors are sharp and hurtful, implying to sever relations with one stroke or one cut. 4. umbrellas: In Taiwan dialect, "伞" (san, umbrella) shares the same pronunciation with "散" (san, parting). 5. mirrors: The mirror is fragile, so it is hard to join together a broken mirror. It also implies that someone is not good-looking and need to look at the mirror. 6.clock: "钟" (zhong, clock) sounds the same with "终" (zhong, end). 7. sweet cakes: sweet cakes refer to rice cakes, which are indispensable when people in Taiwan offer sacrifices to deities and ancestors at Spring Festival. 8. rice dumplings: Habitually, families of the deceased neither steam rice cakes, nor present rice dumplings. 9. ducks: "Yuerou" means meat which women eat in the first month after their delivery. Ethnic minorities Taiwan has its heritage of ethnic minorities, all of whom live in remote valleys and along the rocky slopes of the central mountain range. They once occupied the entire island, but today are a small minority of about 350,000 people, or less than 2% of the majority Chinese population. They are Taiwan's original people, or aboriginals. Out of the 375,000 ethnic minorities, only nine conspicuous tribes still dominate Taiwan. These tribes are Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Tsao, and Yami. 1. Ami: Flaunting more than 150,000 members, Ami, the largest ethnic group, populates the scenic mountains and valleys near Hualien on the east coast. Amis are primarily farmers. Each harvest (end July, beginning August) is welcomed with an array of traditional dance forms, music, costumes, and customs. 2. Atayal:The Atayal tribe inhabits the lush valleys of Wulai, about an hour's drive from Taipei. Due to their proximity to Taipei, they are more neoteric in their thinking and most of them are involved in the tourism field. 3. Paiwan:The Paiwan is unique for its worshipping of the 'hundred-pacer' snake. It is believed that the snake (named so because of its deadly capabilities) can kill its victims before they can run 100 steps. Paiwans are experts in wood-carving, making totems, doors, eaves, beams, smoking pipes, and other showpieces. They also weave, sculpt stones, and make beadwork using ancient designs and techniques. 4. Rukai: The Rukai's main trait is agriculture. They prefer remote, inaccessible cliff-side homes. They do not mind having neighbors 10 hours away. Rukai people regard traditions with high esteem. The tunics and robes that they wear on special occasions are intricately embroidered in black and silver and represent their affinity to tradition. An interesting spectacle of Rukai competence is in their 'swing contest'. Future brides mount an enormous swing, with their legs fettered to prevent flailing. Then brawny and strong tribesmen in ceremonial attires swing the ladies as high as they can, and later the girls are carried off their swings and dropped into the arms of their most faithful admirers. 5.Puyuna: Like the Rukai, the Puyuma also prefer to live on the foothills of the central mountain range, near Taitung. They share almost mutual traditions with the Rukai and sporadically venture into the city outskirts for major festivals and swing contests. 6. Bunun: Another antiquated tribe of Taiwan is the Bunun, who dwell in Tainan. Their common practice is a form of night worship that started centuries ago. However, some amendments have been made to this traditional activity, such as pig heads have replaced disembodied human heads as sacrificial offerings, and electricity has replaced torches for lighting. 7. Yami: The Yami depend greatly on the seas' resources. Fishing boats are the legacy of the Yami. Each boat is built from a single giant tree and are beautiful vessels. A fascinating trait of the Yami is the marriage customs. As females dominate the Yami society of the island, they have superior rights. After engagement, the male moves into the female's home for a trial period. At that time, the groom must be on his best behavior and display manly skills to prove to his bride and her family that he is a good and capable individual. If he fails, he is sent away in disgrace and a new suitor is brought in to face the same challenges. Even a successful groom will have to continue proving his worth to his wife and her family or else he would have to succumb to a divorce sought by his wife. Ultimately, many of these minorities have been assimilated with the burst of growth of Taiwan's commercial and industrial development, but there are a few who still cohere to the traditions and age-old approach of doing things. New year traditions With the arrival of New Year's Day, life is renewed and the New Year begins to unfold amidst the noise of firecrackers. The Taiwanese begin the day by worshipping their ancestors, following which the streets become filled with people making New Year's visits to friends and relatives and with the lively display of dragon dancing, lion dancing, and other folk activities. There will also be a firework display at Taipei 101 on the big night. To insure the arrival of luck and wealth in the New Year, several taboos must be heeded. Floors may not be swept and garbage may not be disposed for fear of casting riches out the door, cussing and quarreling is to be avoided at all costs, and anyone who breaks a dish on this day must quickly say Peace for all time, to avoid incurring misfortune. On the second day of the New Year, married women return to their parents home to visit family, on the fourth day, the gods return to the world of the living, and on the fifth day, many new stores and old businesses open their doors for the first time due to the auspiciousness of the day. The festive air of celebration continues in this manner all the way up to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the New Year before slowly ebbing back to normal life again.
Taiwan up close
Mazu culture Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown. She is none other than the world-renowned Mazu, goddess of the sea. The respect for Mazu has turned into a wide-spread belief with the passage of time. Following the footprints of sea merchants and overseas Chinese, Mazu went out of Fujian. The belief in Mazu has become a sort of transnational folk belief with more than 100 million worshippers. For geographical and historical reasons, the belief in Mazu at Taiwan has turned out to be a popular belief. According to statistics, around two-thirds of the population in Taiwan believe in Mazu, and more than 500 Mazu temples are scattered on the island. In the wake of improving relations between both sides of the Straits, tens of thousands of Taiwan compatriots swarmed to the Meizhou Island to dedicate their piety at Mazu temples to fulfil their sincere wish which they had cherished for decades. The unique Mazu Pilgrim Tour will undoubtedly breakthrough the artificial hedge standing between the people on both sides of the Straits. Wedding traditions In Taiwan, there is a diversity of wedding ceremonies varying with nationalities and cultural backgrounds, but in general, all wedding ceremonies are either traditional or modern. Traditional wedding ceremonies are still influential in Taiwan, because most Taiwanese are descendants of migrants from Fujian, Guangdong and other places of Chinese mainland. In the development and construction of Taiwan, the ancestors firmly preserved cultural customs they had brought from their hometowns to Taiwan, and passed the customs down from generation to generation. Classic activities of a traditional wedding ceremony include presenting betrothal gifts, sitting in a bridal sedan chair, worshipping Heaven and Earth, paying obeisance to parents and to each other, and teasing the newlywed in the wedding night. Although the newlywed are dressed in a western style, the wedding ceremony is absolutely Chinese from presenting candies, lighting cigarettes, serving tea to collecting lucky money. Nowadays, a lot of young people choose to get married in a modern style. A modern wedding ceremony is a combination of joy and happiness with bridal veil, fireworks, groom and bride, and a number of guests. Besides, there are many collective wedding ceremonies in Taiwan. A lot of young couples, whether from Taipei, Taichung or Tainan, choose to participate in a collective wedding ceremony where people share common wishes for a bright future. Gift giving Taiwan is a great gift-giving society. When you visit someones house for dinner, it is customary to bring a gift. This may be some fruit, a box of chocolates, some pastries, or a bottle of wine. One shared gift is acceptable, and maybe some small items for the kids will be enough to score some brownie points. While most small gifts can be bought in Taiwan, it may be a good idea to bring a few small gifts with you form home to give special friends you will develop. It must be noted that the Taiwanese are generally big on brand names and 'designer' items. When you present a gift, tradition dictates that it be presented with two hands and received with two hands (the same is true for name cards and anything else exchanged at a social occasion). The host will usually not open the present in your presence unless you request them to do so. When opening the gift in the host's presence, it is important to open the package carefully to avoid ripping and crumpling the paper. The wrapping paper should be folded up and put aside, not ripped open and promptly disposed of as is usual in other cultures. For nice presents it is recommended to wrap it carefully as appearance is important. There's plenty of wrapping paper available in Taiwan. You can find some as well as gifts at Watson's stores or at a bookstore. When giving a gift, it is often customary to demean it's value by saying something like, "It's just a small gift to show my appreciation". taboos: 1. hand towels:In the past, the family who held a funeral would give hand towels to people who paid a condolence call, intending to break off their relations with the deceased. 2. fans: Cheap and fragile, fans are used to relieve summer heat. Since it gets cooler by late autumn, there is an idiom called "Qiushan Jianqian" (literally, to put away the fan in autumn). 3. scissors: scissors are sharp and hurtful, implying to sever relations with one stroke or one cut. 4. umbrellas: In Taiwan dialect, "伞" (san, umbrella) shares the same pronunciation with "散" (san, parting). 5. mirrors: The mirror is fragile, so it is hard to join together a broken mirror. It also implies that someone is not good-looking and need to look at the mirror. 6.clock: "钟" (zhong, clock) sounds the same with "终" (zhong, end). 7. sweet cakes: sweet cakes refer to rice cakes, which are indispensable when people in Taiwan offer sacrifices to deities and ancestors at Spring Festival. 8. rice dumplings: Habitually, families of the deceased neither steam rice cakes, nor present rice dumplings. 9. ducks: "Yuerou" means meat which women eat in the first month after their delivery. Ethnic minorities Taiwan has its heritage of ethnic minorities, all of whom live in remote valleys and along the rocky slopes of the central mountain range. They once occupied the entire island, but today are a small minority of about 350,000 people, or less than 2% of the majority Chinese population. They are Taiwan's original people, or aboriginals. Out of the 375,000 ethnic minorities, only nine conspicuous tribes still dominate Taiwan. These tribes are Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Tsao, and Yami. 1. Ami: Flaunting more than 150,000 members, Ami, the largest ethnic group, populates the scenic mountains and valleys near Hualien on the east coast. Amis are primarily farmers. Each harvest (end July, beginning August) is welcomed with an array of traditional dance forms, music, costumes, and customs. 2. Atayal:The Atayal tribe inhabits the lush valleys of Wulai, about an hour's drive from Taipei. Due to their proximity to Taipei, they are more neoteric in their thinking and most of them are involved in the tourism field. 3. Paiwan:The Paiwan is unique for its worshipping of the 'hundred-pacer' snake. It is believed that the snake (named so because of its deadly capabilities) can kill its victims before they can run 100 steps. Paiwans are experts in wood-carving, making totems, doors, eaves, beams, smoking pipes, and other showpieces. They also weave, sculpt stones, and make beadwork using ancient designs and techniques. 4. Rukai: The Rukai's main trait is agriculture. They prefer remote, inaccessible cliff-side homes. They do not mind having neighbors 10 hours away. Rukai people regard traditions with high esteem. The tunics and robes that they wear on special occasions are intricately embroidered in black and silver and represent their affinity to tradition. An interesting spectacle of Rukai competence is in their 'swing contest'. Future brides mount an enormous swing, with their legs fettered to prevent flailing. Then brawny and strong tribesmen in ceremonial attires swing the ladies as high as they can, and later the girls are carried off their swings and dropped into the arms of their most faithful admirers. 5.Puyuna: Like the Rukai, the Puyuma also prefer to live on the foothills of the central mountain range, near Taitung. They share almost mutual traditions with the Rukai and sporadically venture into the city outskirts for major festivals and swing contests. 6. Bunun: Another antiquated tribe of Taiwan is the Bunun, who dwell in Tainan. Their common practice is a form of night worship that started centuries ago. However, some amendments have been made to this traditional activity, such as pig heads have replaced disembodied human heads as sacrificial offerings, and electricity has replaced torches for lighting. 7. Yami: The Yami depend greatly on the seas' resources. Fishing boats are the legacy of the Yami. Each boat is built from a single giant tree and are beautiful vessels. A fascinating trait of the Yami is the marriage customs. As females dominate the Yami society of the island, they have superior rights. After engagement, the male moves into the female's home for a trial period. At that time, the groom must be on his best behavior and display manly skills to prove to his bride and her family that he is a good and capable individual. If he fails, he is sent away in disgrace and a new suitor is brought in to face the same challenges. Even a successful groom will have to continue proving his worth to his wife and her family or else he would have to succumb to a divorce sought by his wife. Ultimately, many of these minorities have been assimilated with the burst of growth of Taiwan's commercial and industrial development, but there are a few who still cohere to the traditions and age-old approach of doing things. New year traditions With the arrival of New Year's Day, life is renewed and the New Year begins to unfold amidst the noise of firecrackers. The Taiwanese begin the day by worshipping their ancestors, following which the streets become filled with people making New Year's visits to friends and relatives and with the lively display of dragon dancing, lion dancing, and other folk activities. There will also be a firework display at Taipei 101 on the big night. To insure the arrival of luck and wealth in the New Year, several taboos must be heeded. Floors may not be swept and garbage may not be disposed for fear of casting riches out the door, cussing and quarreling is to be avoided at all costs, and anyone who breaks a dish on this day must quickly say Peace for all time, to avoid incurring misfortune. On the second day of the New Year, married women return to their parents home to visit family, on the fourth day, the gods return to the world of the living, and on the fifth day, many new stores and old businesses open their doors for the first time due to the auspiciousness of the day. The festive air of celebration continues in this manner all the way up to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the New Year before slowly ebbing back to normal life again.
Taiwan up close
Mazu culture Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown. She is none other than the world-renowned Mazu, goddess of the sea. The respect for Mazu has turned into a wide-spread belief with the passage of time. Following the footprints of sea merchants and overseas Chinese, Mazu went out of Fujian. The belief in Mazu has become a sort of transnational folk belief with more than 100 million worshippers. For geographical and historical reasons, the belief in Mazu at Taiwan has turned out to be a popular belief. According to statistics, around two-thirds of the population in Taiwan believe in Mazu, and more than 500 Mazu temples are scattered on the island. In the wake of improving relations between both sides of the Straits, tens of thousands of Taiwan compatriots swarmed to the Meizhou Island to dedicate their piety at Mazu temples to fulfil their sincere wish which they had cherished for decades. The unique Mazu Pilgrim Tour will undoubtedly breakthrough the artificial hedge standing between the people on both sides of the Straits. Wedding traditions In Taiwan, there is a diversity of wedding ceremonies varying with nationalities and cultural backgrounds, but in general, all wedding ceremonies are either traditional or modern. Traditional wedding ceremonies are still influential in Taiwan, because most Taiwanese are descendants of migrants from Fujian, Guangdong and other places of Chinese mainland. In the development and construction of Taiwan, the ancestors firmly preserved cultural customs they had brought from their hometowns to Taiwan, and passed the customs down from generation to generation. Classic activities of a traditional wedding ceremony include presenting betrothal gifts, sitting in a bridal sedan chair, worshipping Heaven and Earth, paying obeisance to parents and to each other, and teasing the newlywed in the wedding night. Although the newlywed are dressed in a western style, the wedding ceremony is absolutely Chinese from presenting candies, lighting cigarettes, serving tea to collecting lucky money. Nowadays, a lot of young people choose to get married in a modern style. A modern wedding ceremony is a combination of joy and happiness with bridal veil, fireworks, groom and bride, and a number of guests. Besides, there are many collective wedding ceremonies in Taiwan. A lot of young couples, whether from Taipei, Taichung or Tainan, choose to participate in a collective wedding ceremony where people share common wishes for a bright future. Gift giving Taiwan is a great gift-giving society. When you visit someones house for dinner, it is customary to bring a gift. This may be some fruit, a box of chocolates, some pastries, or a bottle of wine. One shared gift is acceptable, and maybe some small items for the kids will be enough to score some brownie points. While most small gifts can be bought in Taiwan, it may be a good idea to bring a few small gifts with you form home to give special friends you will develop. It must be noted that the Taiwanese are generally big on brand names and 'designer' items. When you present a gift, tradition dictates that it be presented with two hands and received with two hands (the same is true for name cards and anything else exchanged at a social occasion). The host will usually not open the present in your presence unless you request them to do so. When opening the gift in the host's presence, it is important to open the package carefully to avoid ripping and crumpling the paper. The wrapping paper should be folded up and put aside, not ripped open and promptly disposed of as is usual in other cultures. For nice presents it is recommended to wrap it carefully as appearance is important. There's plenty of wrapping paper available in Taiwan. You can find some as well as gifts at Watson's stores or at a bookstore. When giving a gift, it is often customary to demean it's value by saying something like, "It's just a small gift to show my appreciation". taboos: 1. hand towels:In the past, the family who held a funeral would give hand towels to people who paid a condolence call, intending to break off their relations with the deceased. 2. fans: Cheap and fragile, fans are used to relieve summer heat. Since it gets cooler by late autumn, there is an idiom called "Qiushan Jianqian" (literally, to put away the fan in autumn). 3. scissors: scissors are sharp and hurtful, implying to sever relations with one stroke or one cut. 4. umbrellas: In Taiwan dialect, "伞" (san, umbrella) shares the same pronunciation with "散" (san, parting). 5. mirrors: The mirror is fragile, so it is hard to join together a broken mirror. It also implies that someone is not good-looking and need to look at the mirror. 6.clock: "钟" (zhong, clock) sounds the same with "终" (zhong, end). 7. sweet cakes: sweet cakes refer to rice cakes, which are indispensable when people in Taiwan offer sacrifices to deities and ancestors at Spring Festival. 8. rice dumplings: Habitually, families of the deceased neither steam rice cakes, nor present rice dumplings. 9. ducks: "Yuerou" means meat which women eat in the first month after their delivery. Ethnic minorities Taiwan has its heritage of ethnic minorities, all of whom live in remote valleys and along the rocky slopes of the central mountain range. They once occupied the entire island, but today are a small minority of about 350,000 people, or less than 2% of the majority Chinese population. They are Taiwan's original people, or aboriginals. Out of the 375,000 ethnic minorities, only nine conspicuous tribes still dominate Taiwan. These tribes are Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Tsao, and Yami. 1. Ami: Flaunting more than 150,000 members, Ami, the largest ethnic group, populates the scenic mountains and valleys near Hualien on the east coast. Amis are primarily farmers. Each harvest (end July, beginning August) is welcomed with an array of traditional dance forms, music, costumes, and customs. 2. Atayal:The Atayal tribe inhabits the lush valleys of Wulai, about an hour's drive from Taipei. Due to their proximity to Taipei, they are more neoteric in their thinking and most of them are involved in the tourism field. 3. Paiwan:The Paiwan is unique for its worshipping of the 'hundred-pacer' snake. It is believed that the snake (named so because of its deadly capabilities) can kill its victims before they can run 100 steps. Paiwans are experts in wood-carving, making totems, doors, eaves, beams, smoking pipes, and other showpieces. They also weave, sculpt stones, and make beadwork using ancient designs and techniques. 4. Rukai: The Rukai's main trait is agriculture. They prefer remote, inaccessible cliff-side homes. They do not mind having neighbors 10 hours away. Rukai people regard traditions with high esteem. The tunics and robes that they wear on special occasions are intricately embroidered in black and silver and represent their affinity to tradition. An interesting spectacle of Rukai competence is in their 'swing contest'. Future brides mount an enormous swing, with their legs fettered to prevent flailing. Then brawny and strong tribesmen in ceremonial attires swing the ladies as high as they can, and later the girls are carried off their swings and dropped into the arms of their most faithful admirers. 5.Puyuna: Like the Rukai, the Puyuma also prefer to live on the foothills of the central mountain range, near Taitung. They share almost mutual traditions with the Rukai and sporadically venture into the city outskirts for major festivals and swing contests. 6. Bunun: Another antiquated tribe of Taiwan is the Bunun, who dwell in Tainan. Their common practice is a form of night worship that started centuries ago. However, some amendments have been made to this traditional activity, such as pig heads have replaced disembodied human heads as sacrificial offerings, and electricity has replaced torches for lighting. 7. Yami: The Yami depend greatly on the seas' resources. Fishing boats are the legacy of the Yami. Each boat is built from a single giant tree and are beautiful vessels. A fascinating trait of the Yami is the marriage customs. As females dominate the Yami society of the island, they have superior rights. After engagement, the male moves into the female's home for a trial period. At that time, the groom must be on his best behavior and display manly skills to prove to his bride and her family that he is a good and capable individual. If he fails, he is sent away in disgrace and a new suitor is brought in to face the same challenges. Even a successful groom will have to continue proving his worth to his wife and her family or else he would have to succumb to a divorce sought by his wife. Ultimately, many of these minorities have been assimilated with the burst of growth of Taiwan's commercial and industrial development, but there are a few who still cohere to the traditions and age-old approach of doing things. New year traditions With the arrival of New Year's Day, life is renewed and the New Year begins to unfold amidst the noise of firecrackers. The Taiwanese begin the day by worshipping their ancestors, following which the streets become filled with people making New Year's visits to friends and relatives and with the lively display of dragon dancing, lion dancing, and other folk activities. There will also be a firework display at Taipei 101 on the big night. To insure the arrival of luck and wealth in the New Year, several taboos must be heeded. Floors may not be swept and garbage may not be disposed for fear of casting riches out the door, cussing and quarreling is to be avoided at all costs, and anyone who breaks a dish on this day must quickly say Peace for all time, to avoid incurring misfortune. On the second day of the New Year, married women return to their parents home to visit family, on the fourth day, the gods return to the world of the living, and on the fifth day, many new stores and old businesses open their doors for the first time due to the auspiciousness of the day. The festive air of celebration continues in this manner all the way up to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the New Year before slowly ebbing back to normal life again.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown.
2 Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown.
3 Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown.
4 Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown.
5 Over 1,000 years ago, a beautiful young girl by the name of Lin Mu was born at the Xianliang Port of Meizhou Bay in Putian, Fujian Province. Clever, brave and kindhearted, Lin Mu could forecast the weather and was happy to help fishermen in distress at sea. She encouraged the people to conquer nature and defeat evil, so she was much loved and esteemed by the people in her hometown.