Earthworms ‘marry’ in Taiwan ceremony

TAIPEI: Seventy “lucky earthworms” have been married off in an elaborate wedding ritual in south Taiwan in a bid to raise awareness about the environment and the problem of soil erosion, organizers said yesterday. The worms arrived Sunday at Takang Park in Tainan city inside a traditional wedding sedan draped in red cloth to “tie the knot with the soil of the park,” Takang Community Development Association said. “The ceremony was implemented exactly according to traditional Taiwanese customs,” said Huang Sen-nan, the leader of the volunteer group. “We want to raise public awareness about the need to protect the land where we live.” Soil erosion — which can contribute to landslides dur- ing typhoons — is one of Taiwan’s main environmental problems. The presence of worms can help the prevention of soil erosion by improving soil structure and drainage.