Shocking! Snake worship in small towns in Fujian, celebrating "Snake Festival"! Nearly 100 snakes and small snakes were paraded in the streets.

Introduction to the Snake Festival On the "Snake Festival", a snake artist held up the cobra and attracted everyone to watch. Yu Fang Shan

In the snake art performance of "Snake Festival", a strange man put two snakes in his nose and let them pass through his mouth. Wang Shangshu was photographed at the Snake Festival a few years ago.

A snake artist put his hand into the cobra's mouth. Yu Fang Shan

The first time she caught a snake, she was afraid and curious, so she couldn't help covering her mouth. Yu Fang Shan

Fujian is called "Min" for short. The interpretation of the word "min" in Shuo Wen Jie Zi by Xu Shen in the Eastern Han Dynasty is "min, southeast Vietnam, snake species", which shows that "min" and "snake" have an indissoluble cultural origin. Yu Fang Shan

Zhang Hu Town, located in Yanping District, Nanping City, Fujian Province, is a thousand-year-old town in the upper reaches of Minjiang River. The local villagers regard snakes as their totems. They respect snakes and avoid eating snake meat.

Zhang Hu Snake King Temple is located on the pier on the east side of Zhang Hu Town. The difference between this temple and other temples is that the head of the temple is carved into a snake head at its cornice, which is lifelike. The Snake King Temple is also called "Lian Gong Temple" and "Fuqing Hall". Up to now, there is still a quaint folk cultural activity-offering sacrifices to snakes. Photo by Chen Maojun

It is said that the well-preserved Zhanghu snake worship culture is closely related to the local people's livelihood. In the past, Zhanghu Lake was also called "Zhanghuban", and most local people lived by water transportation. "Ban" means "village by the water" in ancient Vietnamese, and the terrain of the old "Zhang Hu Ban" is like a huge raft. Zhang Laike lived on water for generations. However, there are many dangers and snakes here, which makes life in ancient Zhanglake very difficult. In the face of snake harm, Lakers Zhang had to "climb relatives" with snakes, hoping to get their "shelter". Yu Fang Shan

Every year, one month before the "Snake Festival", adult men in Zhang Hu Town will go to Shan Ye to catch non-toxic pythons and brocade snakes, and then give them to the sacrifice organizer "Snake Dad" in the Snake King Temple. "Snake Dad" put the snake in a special snake tank and then issued a certificate to the adult man who caught the snake. Yu Fang Shan

On August 27th, the sixth day of July, the day before the "Snake Festival", Zhang Hu Town held a ceremony to worship the snake king. Yu Fang Shan

On the 28th, the seventh day of July, the "Snake Festival". At 6 o'clock in the morning, the villagers began to prepare various sacrifices. An adult man with a certificate went to the Snake King Temple and took a snake from "Snake Dad" to participate in the "Snake Festival" parade. After the cruise, these snakes will be released into nature. Zheng she

Because the weather is too hot, snakes get sick easily. On the day of "Snake Festival", everyone takes out the snakes and washes them with water to help them cool down. Yu Fang Shan

At 7 o'clock in the morning, the parade began. On the streets of the town, colorful flags are flying, parades are ringing, adults are carrying idols, and children form weapons arrays and waist drum teams. Among the procession, there is a procession with live snakes, which is called "Snake Race Team". Each team has a snake in its hand or on its shoulder and neck. Zhang was taken at the Snake Festival in previous years.

The "snake king" in the snake king temple weighs more than 60 kilograms, which is difficult for adults to control. Where the procession passed by, every household set up incense tables and set off firecrackers at the door, praying for a peaceful, auspicious and bumper harvest in a year. The villagers said that the more firecrackers were set off, the more respect they paid. Yu Fang Shan

According to Wang Shangshu, stationmaster of Zhang Hu Town Cultural Station in Yanping District of Nanping City and president of Zhang Hu Wenchong Snake Culture Research Association, the Zhang Hu Lakers not only kissed and respected snakes, but also tamed them. Zheng was photographed at the Snake Festival a few years ago.

Ye's whole family are practicing snakes, and the villagers used to call them "Sister Snake". Yu Fang Shan

The snake tamer said that when catching a snake, the strength of the hand should not be great. Gently hold the snake neck and the snake body near the tail with both hands, and then prepare a wet towel to introduce the snake festival. It will cool down in a few minutes, and when it is comfortable, the snake will be tamed. Photo by Wang Shangshu

Tourists and locals who come here to participate in the "Snake Festival" are crowded with the roads around the Cultural Square in Zhang Hu Town. Photo by Wang Shangshu

Many newly arrived tourists are infected by the local atmosphere and start to get close to snakes and take photos with them. Yu Fang Shan

This year's "Snake Festival" is the smallest snake. Its body is thinner than fingers, and its length is only about 20 cm. Photo by Wang Shangshu

In Zhang Hu Town, almost everyone has their own skills to train snakes. Zheng was photographed at the Snake Festival a few years ago.

In the snake art performance, two cobras confronted each other. Yu Fang Shan

Zhang Hu town worships snakes, and even the local moon cakes are in the shape of snakes. Yu Fang Shan

After the worship, the villagers opened the snake urn and seven or eight big snakes jumped into the water one by one. As soon as it entered the water, the snake held its head high, swam to the thickest hillside on the other side of the river and jumped into the forest. It was taken at the "Snake Festival" in previous years.

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