In Lieu of Fireworks, Chinese Villagers Hurl Molten Iron at a Wall

Elaine Chow — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:50:20 EDT

During the Lantern Festival last month, one village in China celebrated the same way they have for 500 years—by throwing molten iron at a wall to create showers of make-do fireworks.

The villagers of Nanchuan, China put on an hour-long performance each year called Da shu hua (beating the tree to produce flowers). The iron throwers are protected from all that molten metal by nothing more than a hat and a sheepskin coat. Is it dangerous? The throwers joked that it's not, as long as you're not afraid to die. [Diagonal View]

Gizmodo: lantern festival

In Lieu of Fireworks, Chinese Villagers Hurl Molten Iron at a Wall