Boy Fair： A Sacrificial Ceremonial Drama

In the Han Dynasty two thousand years ago, a fantastic dramatic ceremony called “Grand Nuo” were staged in the court on the eve of Spring Festival. A wizard wearing golden mask and holding spears and shields led 120 boys, all with torches in hand, to run and shout around the court to dispel ghosts and spirits and pray for good harvests and peace. This ceremony has later spread to the society and evolved into a sacrificial ceremonial drama popular in Yangtze Delta which is called “boy fair”.