WorldWorking themselves into a trance, bare-chested men in eastern China lean into incandescent fountains of sparks to cleanse themselves of evil spirits and ensure a fortuitous new year. There, they lean for up to 10 seconds into a spray of bright white sparks shooting upward from fireworks placed on the ground while waving small flags or fans as hundreds of people watch. Opening their mouths, they pretend to "eat" the sparks, thus giving the custom its local name, "eating flowers". The villagers emerge singed and darkened with soot, but off to a clean start to the Year of the Dog, which began on February 16 according to the lunar calendar. Devotees lean for up to 10 seconds into a spray of bright white sparks shooting upward from fireworks placed on the ground while waving small flags or fans

Source: Sunday Times March 08, 2018 09:00 UTC