RACE DAY COUNTDOWN
Highlights of the Festival
Awakening of the Dragon Ceremonies, featuring First Nation Welcome Ceremony, Taoist Priests, Dotting of the Eye Ceremony and Chinese Lion Dance – sponsored by Impact Visual Communications
Date: Friday, July 6th
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Swy a Lana Lagoon
Awakening of the Dragon Ceremonies
Every Dragon Boat Festival in the world honours its roots - especially through one crucial ceremony that must take place before the first boat's paddles slip into the water.
In Nanaimo, Taoist Priests will perform the ‘Awakening of the Dragon’ ceremony in Swy-a-Lana Lagoon. This ceremony awakens the dragon and brings out its fire, which gives the Dragon Boats and their crews the strength of the dragon. The ceremony's climax comes shortly after, with the Dotting of the Eye ceremony, which is when the spirit of the dragon is ‘awakened’.
Chinese Lion Dance
Performed by the Pak Mei Hup Ging Do Martial Art group
The Chinese Lion Dance dates back more than a thousand years and has always been an integral part of Chinese culture. The lion itself is regarded as a guardian creature to drive away evil spirits and although there are many stories on how lion dancing came about, most will agree that the dance is said to bring good luck and prosperity. For this reason, it is very common to see the lion dance being performed on special occasions, such as festivals, birthdays, weddings, opening of businesses and the Chinese New Year
Woodgrove Centre Candles of Courage Ceremony
Date: Friday, July 6th
Time: 9pm
Location: Swy a Lana Lagoon
The Candles of Courage ceremony is an opportunity to honor anyone you know who has been affected by cancer.
A lone piper leads a procession of breast cancer survivors, each carrying a lit pink candle, to the edge of the lagoon where their candles are placed in the water.
The reflection of the candles adrift in the waters of the lagoon is symbolic in that it offers an opportunity to reflect on someone or something meaningful in your own life.
Candles are sold throughout the day prior to the ceremony and members of the public are encouraged to participate.
