The Nuo dance of Leizhou peninsula in South China has some traditions same with the dance in central China because the residents' ancestor emigrated from there hundreds years ago.
There are five generals and a couple symbolizing the god and goddess of the land in the dance team. They all wear the masks made at the beginning of Qing Dynasty(1644-1911). During the Lantern Festival, the dancers offer sacrifice to the ancestors as the start, then praying for all the families. Villagers follow the dancers sounding gongs, beating drums, and sending off firecrackers.
Unless there were disasters and calamity, Nuo dance and Lantern Festival will never stop in the villagers.