Cricket fighting
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Cricket fighting is a gambling or Sports betting using crickets as the fighting animal.
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[edit] Culture
Cricket fighting in China dates back to the Tang Dynasty.[1]
In southern China, particularly around Macao, cricket fighting had been a popular pastime. Many famous hotels around Macao held cricket fights where bets up to thousands of patacas would be waged on a single fight. Prized crickets became famous and actual funeral services would be held for them.
In Beijing, the Association for Cricket Fighting still organizes cricket fighting events and championships.
Though it went on year round, the height of cricket fighting was between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. Banners and flags would be given out to the owners of cricket champions.
It is now illegal in both Macao and Hong Kong, but still occurs [2] in residences, streets, and dancehalls.
[edit] Care and breeding
Crickets had pedigrees and would be carefully bred by knowledgeable keepers. Keepers kept their crickets in fighting shape with a carefully controlled diet. Ground worms, fish and water chestnuts was a popular diet for protein and nutrients. In some cases, even veterinary care and medicine was administered to keep a cricket in fighting or breeding shape. Also everyday a new female cricket for the champ, during a time of three months.
[edit] References
- Portions of this article are written based on exhibits and lecture by academics at the Museum of Macao.
- ^ South China Morning Post, quoted by register article below
- ^ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/16/cricket_fighting_ring/
