People from all over Northern California came to celebrate the Bok Kai Festival in Marysville this past weekend, reports the Appeal Democrat(photo of Bok Kai Temple from Arts Commission) .
It is said to be the oldest continuous parade in California and has run for 134 straight years.
Many return each year with the express hope to keep the tradition to preserve the history for future generations.
Marysville is home to the Bok Kai Temple and was erected in 1854, five years after Chinese immigrants came to America to mine for gold.
One tradition each year is bomb day. Gold rings are launched into the air by exploding fire crackers. The more rings participants catch, the more luck they will have.
“I guess this means I’ll have really, really good luck this year,” said Andy Chow, who caught 5 rings. “I might give some to my friends.”
You can read more about the future of the Festival in an editorial in the Appeal-Democrat.
