漫遊年味十足的老街 (二) / Exploring an Old Street Filled with Lunar New Year Festivities (Part 2)

假如不是年曆新年期間，我猜，也是會有很多人，特地來台北最有名的月老廟，求姻緣，這間廟就是坐落在迪化街上的霞海城隍廟，其實，霞海城隍廟的主神是城隍爺，但是廟中同樣供奉月下老人，而且聽說很靈驗，久而久之，去求姻緣的人越來越多，而且，想生小孩的信眾可以繼續參拜註生娘娘，而走入婚姻的信徒可以請城隍夫人照看另一半，民間信仰相信城隍夫人能打小三、斬桃花、專治夫妻失和，久而久之，它就成為口耳相傳的知名地標之一。

俗話說，人潮就是錢潮，不能好好吸引前來迪化街購物的遊客們，就是浪費行銷資源，所以，在老街上永樂市場前面的廣場，也是街頭藝人做生意的好地方，而街頭藝人出色的演出，也讓這充滿商業味的年貨大街，也能帶來一些文化氣息，也讓逛的腳痠腿麻的來往路人們，可以或坐或站地，觀看精彩表演，放鬆一下，算是相輔而成吧。

突然朋友指給我看，那個坐在永樂市場上的布花蛇玩偶，我們討論了一下，認為它就是永樂布市的意象化體現，而坐在布花蛇隔壁的月下談心玩偶，很明顯地，就是霞海城隍廟的意象化體現，前面提到的和菓子名店- 滋養，上面也有一個糕餅花的玩偶，看來，主辦單位還算是有想法，除了呼應今年的蛇年主題之外，也順便推廣在地特色。

聽說今年起，這個年貨大街還特別主打無菸環境，我本身不會吸菸，而同行的朋友也不會吸菸，但是我有些朋友的菸癮很大，每隔幾個小時，就需要去外面吸菸解癮，一天可以抽完一包菸，雖然，我想可能不會有癮君子，在人潮那麼多的地方採買年貨時，還一邊逛、一邊抽菸，影響別人，但是由官方主動宣導並維護不吸二手菸的權利，還是不錯的。

If it weren’t the Lunar New Year season, I guess there would still be plenty of people visiting Taipei’s most famous Yue Lao Temple to pray for love. This temple, the Xia-Hai City God Temple, is located right on Dihua Street. Technically, the main deity worshipped here is the City God, but the temple also houses the Matchmaker God (Yue Lao), who is said to be incredibly effective. Over time, more and more people started coming here to pray for love. Couples trying to have children can pray to Zhusheng Niangniang (the Goddess of Birth), and those who are already married can ask the City God’s wife to protect their partner. According to local beliefs, the City God’s wife is known for warding off mistresses, cutting off inappropriate romantic entanglements, and helping to resolve marital conflicts. Over time, the temple has become a well-known landmark, passed down through word of mouth.

There’s a saying: “Where there are people, there’s money”. If you can’t attract visitors shopping on Dihua Street, it’s a waste of marketing resources. That’s why the plaza in front of the Yongle Market on the old street has become a prime spot for street performers. Their outstanding performances add a touch of culture to this otherwise commercialized New Year Market. For weary shoppers with tired legs, these performances provide a chance to take a break—whether sitting or standing—and enjoy the entertainment. It’s a win-win situation.

Suddenly, my friend pointed out a stuffed flower-patterned snake doll sitting on the Yongle Market rooftop. After some discussion, we decided it must represent Yongle’s textile market theme. Next to the snake doll was a “Moonlight Heart-to-Heart” doll, clearly symbolizing the Xia-Hai City God Temple. On top of the wagashi shop I mentioned earlier—Ziyang—there was another doll shaped like a pastry flower. It seems the organizers do have some creative ideas. Not only did they tie the decorations to this year’s Snake theme, but they also cleverly promoted local features.

I also heard that starting this year, the New Year Market is emphasizing a smoke-free environment. I don’t smoke, and neither do my friends who came along, but I know people who are heavy smokers and need a cigarette every few hours, sometimes going through a whole pack in a day. Even though I doubt any smoker would light up in such a crowded area while shopping for New Year goods and risk bothering others, it’s still great that the organizers are actively promoting this policy and protecting visitors from secondhand smoke.

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