Thousands of Taiwanese participate in a foot-washing ceremony to show their gratitute to their parents and elders, a ritual rooted in ancient Confucian virtues of filial piety. Among the participants is the island's Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Kuo Hsing-chun, who washed her mother's feet. "Taiwanese do not usually express their love to their parents," one participant says, adding "I am here to show my gratitude to my mother who raised me. A token of my gratitude." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES