Origin of Deqing Fried Lion Festival

According to legend, in the Song Dynasty, Deqing had the folk custom of "frying lions".

Lion dance is regarded as an auspicious mascot in Deqing, which can drive away evil spirits. Deqing people throw firecrackers at lions, which has two meanings: one is to wake up the hibernating lions with firecrackers, wake them up, turn them into lions, and pray for the prosperity of the New Year and the spirit of dragon and horse; 2. Exploding lions is also called "firecrackers to attack lions", and "attack" is homophonic with "gong" to show respect for lions.

It's scary to hear the name "fried lion", but in fact, "lion" is not a real lion, but a lion dance team composed of professionally trained personnel. First, the lion dance team picks green flowers and pays New Year greetings to merchants or owners. After some dancing, the remaining two people who play the lion "blow up the lion". "Fried", in Deqing dialect, is to throw lit firecrackers at the "lion". Everyone surrounded the "lion", lit sizzling firecrackers and threw them at the lion, which was enough to blow the brand-new "lion" to the ground and destroy it.