Bok Kai Festival 1925 In Marysville, California
1925 Marysville Bok Kai Festival in California-Courtesy of the Perminger Archives
Bok Kai Temple
Visiting the Temple during the 2012 Bok Kai Festival in Marysville, CA.
Catching the Lucky Rings at the Bok Kai Festival in Marysville, CA 2013
Also know as Bomb Day, the event is a unique Chinese American phenomenon which dates back as far as 1880 where rings are fired into the air and young men make a mad dash to catch the lucky rings. There is no Chinese festival like this in China or anywhere.
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From the Bok Kai Festival website:
BOMB DAY
Bomb Day, or in Chinese, Yee Yeut Yee, takes its name from the colorful firing of the bombs highlighting the celebration, which is in tribute to the Chinese Water God, Bok Eye.
Each year on the second day of the second month of the Chinese lunar year, the Chinese community of Marysville and the Marysville Yuba County Chamber of Commerce join in putting on the Bomb Day celebration, which marks Bok Eye's birthday. When the day falls on a weekday, the festivities usually are held for two days during the weekend.
The annual two-day event draws thousands from Marysville and surrounding communities. It also attracts thousands of Chinese from all parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico, who come to worship at the Bok Kai Temple and join in the festivities.
Although the celebration includes the colorful parade, a fashion show, dance, exhibitions by Lion Dancers, banquets and other entertainment, the highlight of the event is the firing of the bombs.
The 100 bombs are fired in a roped arena where young Chinese, and occasionally adults, scramble for good fortune rings which are shot into the air from the bursting bombs, traditionally bring good fortune to the holder throughout the year.
The rings may be kept by those who retrieve them in the scramble, but often they are sold to people who want to keep the lucky charms for a year. Those who purchase them, in turn, pay a fee at the temple to hold the rings.
The No. 4 ring is the luckiest, and therefore the most sought after ring of all, and brings on the liveliest scramble when the bombs are fired.
In addition to the fun and excitement of the celebration, Bomb Day has another aspect - it enables the Chinese to worship at the temple, which honors Bok Eye, worshipped by the Chinese for banishing evil spirits and for controlling rains and floods of spring in time for planting.
During the ritual of worship at the temple, each individual finds out how the new year will benefit him in his particular endeavor.
The temple, which stands next to the Marysville levee at the foot of D Street, was first built in the early 1860s nearly two blocks upstream from the present site. It was destroyed once and rebuilt on the present site.
BOMB PRODUCTION: A FASCINATING AND ANCIENT METHOD
The bombs, resembling giant firecrackers, are handmade in Marysville specifically for Bomb Day. Commissioned to do the job is Tom Lim, who learned the tedious and ancient craft from his native China. Lim has produced the bombs for this event the past 10 years after importation of them was halted following the Communist take-over of China. He uses discarded magazine paper rolled tightly around a stalk of bamboo, melting resin, dirt, gun powder, twine, gold leaf paper and, for the rings, fine wire. For safety, the fuse or wick is inserted just prior to the firing. A special permit and license are issued each year by the State Fire Marshal to the Marysville Chinese Community for this annual production of approximately 100 bombs.
[Chinese Lion Dance: Marysville, California] 1925
MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA: Chinese Lion Dance: Views of the crowds and stores in Marysville, parade / fireworks / Chinese Ring game / CU dragon as city celebrates Bok Kai Festival
We digitized and uploaded this film on behalf of the Prelinger Archives. Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.
Thousands Gather For Bok Kai Parade In Marysville
The festival to honor the water god brought out plenty of people for the oldest continuously held parade in the state.
Catching the lucky rings at the Bok Kai Festival Bomb Day, Marysville 2012
Eighteen handmade ceremonial bombs were fired into the air followed by a mad dash for the lucky rings contained inside the individual bombs.
This colorful activity is punctuated by the vivid snapping and popping of fireworks and is sponsored by the Sahm Fow Chinese Community. This event is open for public viewing only unless you want your butt kicked. Marysville, CA
130th Annual Bok Kai Parade 2010 Marysville, CA
Hop Sing Society Lion Dance in Front of Review Stand......
Bomb Day ~ Stories From Marysville's Chinatown
Former residents of a rural Sacramento Valley community tell stories of growing up in their wide-open neighborhood during the 1920s, 30s & 40s. Interspersed with period photographs and rare newsreel film footage of a nationally known Chinese-American festival, Bomb Day--Stories from Marysville's Chinatown provides viewers with an up close and personal glimpse into one of northern California's last Chinatowns. Interviews recorded in fall 2004.
pyramid ufo over marysville ca. 11/07/14
This is footage i caught on my galaxy s4 of a spinning pyramid type craft a few miles from my house in marysville ca.this is real footage in real time and has not been doctored up in anyway
2012 Bok Kai Festival Parade
Hong Wan Lung, a 175-foot-long dragon, performs at the 132nd edition of the Bok Kai Festival Parade in Marysville, Calif. on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.
Poor People's Campaign in Marysville, CA for MLKJ Day: Anthony Prince, California Homeless Union
Anthony Prince, California Poor People's Campaign/Lead Attorney for California Homeless Union
From These Ashes, a New Movement is Rising! Hosted by California Poor People's Campaign and the Marysville Homeless Union.
What is The California Homeless Union?
The California Homeless Union began four years ago in Salinas as the community fought to stop the destruction of the Chinatown homeless encampment. Since then, the Union has established locals in Salinas, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Marysville, and Chico.
What is the purpose of the Homeless Union?
To unite all those who are unable to afford or have lost their housing no matter how they became homeless. To represent ourselves and be at the table when policies are made that affect us.
What is the structure of the Homeless Union?
The basic unit of the Union is the Local, made up of homeless people in a given city or county, with smaller divisions in specific shelters, tent cities, encampments, etc. Members elect an Executive Board made up of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer. Locals should hold Membership meetings at least once a month.
What are the goals of the Homeless Union?
We fight for decent housing for all people. We want government bodies, officials and agencies, service providers, etc. to treat homeless people with respect at all times. We organize mutual support with Survival Programs and Education and we aim to become the collective bargaining representative for homeless persons just as the trade union is the collective bargaining representative for workers on the job.
How do you join the Union? What are the duties of Union member?
Fill out a Union Questionnaire and Membership Application. Pay dues established by the Local (In some cases, dues will be waived). Members must support the Union by participating Union activities and upholding solidarity with poor and homeless people everywhere.
St. John's Episcopal Church
Marysville, CA
January 21, 2019
Bok Kai Festival Parade 2014
A short video of the festival celebrating the Bok Kai Temple.
Rob on the Road: 99 stops
Uncover some of California’s best-kept secrets, from an ancient building transported to the small town of Vina to the Bok Kai temple in Marysville. Plus, taste globally recognized wine in Lodi and hit the ice with professional hockey team Stockton Heat.
Bomb Day Marysville 2012
Traditional Chinese New Year Bomb Day at Bok Kai Festival in Marysville, CA 2012. Young men fighting for the ring thrown in the air by the bomb, while the old guys throw fireworks at their feet to confuse them.
KCRA 3 Common Ground Explores Chinese Artifacts at the Bok Kai Temple
KCRA 3 takes a trip to the Bok Kai Temple where over 300 Chinese artifacts live in boxes. Two Marysville Chinese Community members are launching a Kickstarter Campaign to raise funds to create a museum for these artifacts to be displayed to the public.
Tour Sahm Fow (Marysville's Chinatown) & the Chinese American Museum of Northern California
Tour Marysville's historic Chinatown and the new CAHM (Chinese American History Museum of Northern California) 6th annual Bomb Day lecture series Feb 25, 2012
Bok Kai Parade Dragons
Parade Dragons at Bok Kai festival in Marysville, CA 2009
New Light on Old Chinese Temples in California
Dr. Chuimei Ho and Bennet Bronson talk about the three Chinese temples in California.
Bok Kai Parade
Hong Wan Lung, a 175-foot dragon brought to life by volunteers from Beale Air Force Base, makes the turn at D and First streets during the 135th annual Bok Kai Parade on Saturday, March 21, 2015 in Marysville.