CHINA. Chaoshan, Guangdong Province. 2012.
The Match of Chaoshan Spring Parade of God Statues. An event to worship ancestors and gods, and pray for well-being and peace for the coming New Year. This event is both used as cultural significance, a solemn form of worship, and social entertainment. All of this occurs around the time of the Lantern Festival, the 15th of the first lunar month. The participants include villagers that have skills and abilities to perform in the match. The matches are very diverse and include all things from a multi-stage play, a Giant Pig Match, a lantern match at night, a Giant Goose Match, etc… The matches are supposed to reinforce the ideas of intelligence, art, technique, and hard work to encourage the people to pursue a better life.