People perform lion dances at Chinese festivals or big occasions to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. The lion dance is also a way to create a festive atmosphere and bring happiness. Chinese artists leap from pedestals as they perform a traditional lion dance marking the Lunar New Year of the Snake in the Chinatown area of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw) A lion dance performance is seen in advance of Chinese New Year celebrations in Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand, on January 27, 2025 [Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters] The lion dance is a Chinese tradition performed on big occasions, such as Lunar New Year. light firecrackers and would perform the lion dance to tell the story of Chinese New Year to children The presence of the Green Lion adds excitement to events like Lunar New Year parades, drawing crowds eager to witness its charm. Qilin Dance. The Qilin Dance features the mythical Qilin, a creature resembling a combination of a dragon and a horse. This dance often appears during celebrations and festivals in China. The Lion Dance is an essential component of the Chinese New Year celebrations, where it is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. During these festivities, the Lion Dance is often performed in public spaces, streets, and homes to scare away evil spirits and usher in prosperity. Besides the Chinese New Year, the Lion Dance is also Northern Lion Dance: The Northern Lion Dance is closely associated with martial arts and northern Chinese folklore. You can spot it at some festive occasions, such as the Chinese New Year, to keep evil spirits away and bring good luck and prosperity. Southern Lion Dance: The Southern Lion Dance is deeply rooted in southern Chinese culture. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the oldest traditional festival in China, but a few people concern the origin and story behind the holiday. Many existing customs and activities of the festival actually can be traced back to a popular story of the Monster Nian, which helps to explain why and how the festival is celebrated. One of the staples of Lunar New Year celebrations around the world is the lion dance. (SOUNDBITE OF DRUMS) HUANG: Two people dressed in a long, colorful lion costume are dancing in lockstep with The Chinese Lion Dance can be seen at a variety of events, with the most notable being: Chinese New Year: The most iconic time to see the Lion Dance, especially in major cities like Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and throughout Chinatown in cities like New York and London. The performance is an essential part of the New Year festivities Today, similar to the Chinese Lion and Dragon dances, the Qilin dance is commonly performed during important Chinese celebrations and festivals, such as Chinese New Year and weddings, it is also performed to preserve cultural traditions and enhance community cohesion. [48] [49] Furthermore, the traditions born from this myth serve as a reminder of hope and the promise of new beginnings as families gather to celebrate the Lunar New Year. VII. Nian in Contemporary Celebrations. Today, the story of Nian continues to resonate in Chinese New Year festivities around the world. 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. The Chinese art of Lion dance has spread good fortune for centuries, and as the Lunar New Year approaches, Lion Dance at Cornell brings a piece of that festivity to the Cornell community. Lion Vietnam: Known as Tết in Vietnam, the Lunar New Year celebrations share similarities with Chinese New Year, including family gatherings, lucky money envelopes, and lion dances. However, Vietnamese celebrations have their distinct customs, such as decorating homes with peach blossoms and offering special trays of food to ancestors. Durham's plans for Lunar New Year - otherwise called Chinese New Year - always feature a day-long party with music, dance and community crafts from 10am until 4pm. Taking place in the city the day Join us on today's adventure! Today we will be hearing a story surrounding one of the many legends of the Lunar New Year. This holiday is celebrated in multi 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 Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on Jan. 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. the origin of the practice goes back to a story about a monster called Nian, who is believed to have TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s state-owned railway company, PT KAI, will hold a special Chinese New Year event at train stations across the country.. The event, titled “Imlek at Station,” will feature the barongsai dance, or Lion Dance, held simultaneously on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, aimed to promote the spirit of togetherness and exuberance to KAI customers.
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