Chinese New Year Customs - Part 3

The Lion Dance

Street celebrations often include a traditional lion dance which is thought to bring good luck. There are usually two dancers. One acts as the head and the other the body. They dance to a drum, cymbals and a gong. On the head of the lion is mirror so that evil spirits will be frightened away by their own reflections. As the lion runs along the streets he begins to visit different places. On his way he meets another person, the ‘Laughing Buddha’ who is dressed in monk’s robes and a mask. He teases the lion with a fan made of banana-leaves which makes the lion jump around. The lion dancers need to be very fit. As the lion moves from place to place he looks for some green vegetables such as lettuce which are hung above the doors of houses or businesses. Hidden in the leaves is a red packet of money. The lion eats the lettuce and red packet. He then scatters lettuce leaves to symbolize a fresh start for the new year and the spreading of good luck.

The Lantern Festival

The celebrations end on the fifteenth day with ‘The Festival of Lanterns’. Everywhere is decorated with lanterns of different sizes and in the streets there is music and dancing. The making of lanterns in China is a tradition which goes back 500 years. Red lanterns are thought of as lucky.

The Dragon Dance

There are also processions in the streets. These are normally led by a dragon, which is a symbol of good fortune and power. The dragon model always includes the colours red, gold and green. It is supported by a team of dancers and weaves its way round the streets collecting money from houses.

Watch a movie clip and find out more about the Dragon Dance.