‘Dotting the Eyes’ of ‘Artemis Phyllis’ and ‘Lucy at Low Wood’
‘Dotting the Eyes’ of ‘Artemis Phyllis’ and ‘Lucy at Low Wood’
Barbara ‘dots the eyes’ of Lucy at Low Wood.
In our seventh season, here we are again performing this traditional ceremony to awaken our dragons so they can watch over us. Lynn explained some of the early history of dragon boats and the origins of the ceremony. Roz and Barbara (on behalf of Eunice) painted the eyes of our dragons with Bill throwing buckwheat on the water and Peter burning ‘hell money’. These are all parts of this tradition described here.
Roz performed the honours for Artemis Phyllis.
Bill threw buckwheat on the water to distract the fish from eating Qu Yuan.
Peter burnt ‘Hell Money’ to provide for the afterlife by appeasing the spirits.
After the ceremony our two dragon boats raced towards the shore and beat the water with their paddles calling “Awaken, Awaken, Awaken!
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