Celebration honors Chinese goddess
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| The Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe |
Hundreds of people –
including some from Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey – gathered at
Justice High School April 27 to celebrate the birthday of the Goddess Matsu.
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| The Goddess of Heaven |
Most of them are ethnic
Chinese from Vietnam and Cambodia whose families came to the United States some
40 years ago. The event included performances from the Fairfax Chinese DanceTroupe, martial arts, a dragon dance, and lunch (pork, rice, noodles, salad, and cake).
Chinese from Vietnam and Cambodia whose families came to the United States some
40 years ago. The event included performances from the Fairfax Chinese DanceTroupe, martial arts, a dragon dance, and lunch (pork, rice, noodles, salad, and cake).
The statue of the
Goddess was brought to the school from the Goddess of Heaven Temple in Bailey’s
Crossroads. Members of the audience were invited on stage in small groups to light
incense at the altar and offer prayers to the Goddess. They were given tangerines
as they left the stage for good luck.
Goddess was brought to the school from the Goddess of Heaven Temple in Bailey’s
Crossroads. Members of the audience were invited on stage in small groups to light
incense at the altar and offer prayers to the Goddess. They were given tangerines
as they left the stage for good luck.
The Goddess is more
than 1,000 years old. Residents of Fujian province
in China prayed to the Goddess for a safe journey and a successful new life as
they migrated to Southeast Asia in centuries past, says David Quang, the head of the local Indochinese Benevolent Association.
than 1,000 years old. Residents of Fujian province
in China prayed to the Goddess for a safe journey and a successful new life as
they migrated to Southeast Asia in centuries past, says David Quang, the head of the local Indochinese Benevolent Association.
There are 400 to 500
temples to the Goddess in Southeast Asia, and worshipers again prayed for a safe
journey as they went into exile after the Vietnam War.
temples to the Goddess in Southeast Asia, and worshipers again prayed for a safe
journey as they went into exile after the Vietnam War.
At least one of the buses
from Philadelphia planned a stop at the Eden Center in Seven Corners for some shopping before
heading home.
from Philadelphia planned a stop at the Eden Center in Seven Corners for some shopping before
heading home.