Thursday, October 30, 2008

An ominous sign

The short stretch of road running north of the 2nd Ringroad from Gulou Dajie subway stop across the old city moat and up to the park at the corner of the first block (a walk I cover at least a few times almost every day) is regularly cluttered with itinerant hawkers spreading out their wares on blankets. I have been meaning to take some pictures, but just haven't had time to get around to it this week.

The items they sell are very seasonal. And yesterday their blankets were all covered with packets of 'play' money (and incense, and other grave offerings). Yes, it seems that there's yet another of those appeasing-the-ancestors festivals in the offing. I just can't keep up. It's only a couple of weeks or so since the last one!

This one, at least, seemed to be a much smaller affair - and only lasted the one night, rather than dragging on for a whole week as before. And the skies have been high and clear this week, with very little moisture in the air - so the pollution from street bonfires didn't get too bad.

Does anyone know what this latest holiday was? I thought I was getting a handle on all these odd local customs, but this one has me baffled.

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