Mazu Pilgrimage Procession Organized by Dajia Jenn Lann Temple: A Study on Food

[[abstract]]台灣民俗活動三月瘋媽祖，其中大甲媽祖遶境活動最為盛大，Discovery頻道更將「大甲媽祖遶境」、「麥加朝聖之行」、「梵諦岡耶誕彌撒」列為世界三大宗教活動慶典，被台灣人比喻為一生中要體驗過的活動之一，因為活動長達九天八夜，路線長達300多公里，有想要參與的民眾最困擾的事有:(1)以什麼方式參加；(2)休息及睡覺安排；(3)路線規劃；(4)盥洗問題及吃飯如何解決等等問題，再者想參與遶境活動的信眾年齡層逐漸年輕化，為了讓第一次想體驗遶境或是參與次數經驗較少之信眾，能在參與活動同時能吃到信眾提供較具特色的點心及食物，本研究係採參與觀察法及次級資料收集進行研究，以真實體驗、網路推薦及參與的香客推薦方式蒐集資料，彙整遶境行程中值得品嘗的在地食物，並製作成一份美食地圖及路線規劃提供給想參與信眾作為參考依據。[[abstract]]Among the folklore events for “Mazu March Mania”, the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is the largest. The Discovery Channel even ranked Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage as one of the world’s three largest religious activities, along with the Vatican Christmas Mass and the Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca. Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is deemed as an experience of a lifetime by Taiwanese people because the activity spans 9 days and 8 nights and covers a route more than 300 km in length. The major concerns of prospect pilgrimage participants include: (1) means of participation; (2) rest and accommodation arrangements; (3) route planning; (4) personal hygiene (e.g., using the toilet and bathing) and meals. Because an increasing number of young participants have been observed, they may be participating in the pilgrimage for the first time or have less experiences. To ensure that these participants enjoy unique snacks and cuisines provided by devotees along the route, this study was conducted through observation and secondary data collection. Through authentic experience as well as recommendations online and by pilgrims, this study collected data about the local food worth tasting during the pilgrimage and illustrated a gourmet map for potential pilgrimage participants as route planning references