Friday, April 06, 2007

The Feast Of Excited Insects

I'm sorry I missed this holiday, which happened about a month ago. In The People's Republic of China it is called Ching Che, Dragon Calls Insects to Life:

This is the time when, as the Chinese say, "the dragon raises his head." The lordly dragon goes into hibernation in September in the form of a tiny creature, and thus remains unobserved till he calls the insects to life. On the day of the "Excited Insects" certain fetishes are displayed to placate them.

     - V. R. Bunkhardt, from Chinese Creeds and Customs

In Korea:

Kyongchip, which may be translated as "excited insects," indicates the beginning of Spring. In the country, farmers go into the fields and sow rice and wheat with perennial faith that sun, wind, and rain can be relied upon to produce a good harvest. And, in a grateful and benevolent mood, families carry flower bouquets to the graves of their ancestors as an auspicious beginning of another Spring.

     - Gene Sawyer, from Celebrations: Asia and the Pacific

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