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If you’re lucky enough to attend a Chinese New Year celebration, you may have the chance to view a lion dance. Likely dating back 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history, the dance is a spectacular, high-energy affair, with performers in bright lion costumes leaping and twirling to the sound of loud drums and cymbals, dancing to bring good fortune in the new year. As many people at the time were opposed to the Manchurians being in power, spitting out greens took on a new meaning, "Faan Ceng Fuk Ming" or "resist the Qing Dynasty and revive the Ming Dynasty." Another favorite food of the Chinese lion is the Onion, "Cung", which is a homophone of another character meaning "wisdom". If there is a significant or notable person in the audience, the lion will also bow three times to that individual. Finally, after the dance is over, the lion will once again bow three times. 3. The Secret Behind the Biting. If you’ve ever attended a lion dance, you probably have seen—or experienced—a lion bite by-standers. Danny Quon, the Dragon and Lion Dance Director with the Hon Hsing Athletic Club of Vancouver, explains this is a tradition that goes back at least hundreds of years. "It's basically an offering to the lion when the lion comes to the house or the store," he says, as lettuce is symbolic food for the lion. The word for lettuce in Cantonese is choy. Cabbage (prosperity) Abalone (good fortune) Lion dances are hugely popular during the Chinese New Year period as the lion is representative of courage and stability. The dance is performed by The lion dance’s most important role during Chinese New Year is to expel evil spirits and negative energies. The loud beats of the drums, cymbals, and gongs, combined with the bold movements of the lion, are believed to scare away any malicious spirits lingering from the previous year. Lunar New Year rush starts after China lifts COVID travel rules. By Associated Press. Lion dancer makes impact on Chinese Lunar New Year tradition. By Mori Rothman, Michael D. Regan. Happy Lunar Lion's Head Meatballs is a Chinese New Year celebratory dish, featuring extra large pork meatballs, along with Napa cabbage and mushrooms, braised in a rich, savory sauce. Check out this recipe 14 The Significance of Lion Dances in Chinese New Year Celebrations. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in China. It is a time for families to come together, honor their ancestors, and welcome the new year with joy and optimism. Each dish carries a symbolic meaning. One popular dish during Chinese New Year is yu sheng, which symbolizes blessings and prosperity. This dish typically consists of a mix of pickled vegetables and fish, with sauces and other seasonings. The typical Chinese New Year dish uses a mix of vegetables, including lettuce, carrots, radish, and cabbage The lion dance is usually performed at Chinese traditional festivals such as Chinese New Year or important occasions such as business opening events. Chinese Lion Dance The Symbol of Lion Dance. Known as the king of all animals, the lion symbolizes power. As China is generally free from lion infestation, the lion has a good impression on Lion’s Head Meatballs are a traditional Chinese New Year dish that symbolizes strength and unity. These large, flavorful pork meatballs are cooked in a savory broth with Napa cabbage, creating a hearty and satisfying dish. Mixing in mashed potato helps the meatballs stay soft and smooth. How to make mashed potato: Peel and dice a potato. Cook in boiling water for about 20 minutes. Cultural Significance: Opera preserves traditional values and stories, making it an integral part of Chinese New Year. Auspicious Dates for Chinese New Year 2025. The selection of dates during Chinese New Year is guided by the Chinese lunar calendar and is believed to maximize good fortune. Here are the most auspicious dates: January 29 At Lunar New Year, our school lion dance team would visit neighboring Chinese restaurants and bakeries as well as other Chinese businesses to help bring good fortune for the new year. The dance team consisted of nine people: two for the lion (head and tail), a drummer, two to carry the large drum, a gong player, a gong holder, and two cymbal The traditional lion dance seen at Chinese New Year originates from the legend of the monster known as Nian. You can read all about the legend in our illustrated Story of Nian . Street celebrations often include a performance of the lion dance which is thought to bring good luck. Each Chinese lunar year has a Chinese zodiac sign animal. The Chinese zodiac year's stsarting date is a little different from the Gregorian year. It starts from Chinese New Year. The Chinese zodiac years chart below is provided to help you find out the exact starting and ending dates of the Chinese zodiac years. (This is especially useful for What are lion's head meatballs? Lion's head meatballs are a Chinese celebratory dish, typically eaten during Chinese New Year. They consist of large, oversized pork meatballs, braised and simmered with Napa cabbage and mushrooms in a soupy broth, or thickened savory and umami-filled sauce. Chinese dishes often have fanciful or poetic names and this one is no different. It’s called Shi Zi Tou (獅子頭), which translates literally into Lion’s Head, and is a popular dish in Shanghai. The large pork meatballs surrounded by the ruffled cabbage leaves are said to resemble the head and mane of a lion.
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