New Year's Lion Dance Photo Gallery by LynnH at pbase.com

New Year's Lion Dance

Chinese New Year is the main Chinese festival of the year.
As the Chinese use the Lunar calendar for their festivals the date of Chinese New Year changes from year to year.
The date corresponds to the new moon (black moon) in either late January or February.
Traditionally celebrations last for fifteen days, ending on the date of the full moon.
Street celebrations often include a traditional Lion Dance which is thought to bring good luck.

The Lion Dancers need to be very agile and fit as they perform a lot of acrobatic moves.
One holds the head and the other the body of the Lion. It is typical for the Lion Troupes to be part of martial art schools.
They play out during street celebrations to the sound of drums, gongs and cymbals.
The parading Lions run along the streets to bring goodwill and luck to everyone they meet. They visit stores, restaurants and businesses.

The Lion Troupes are usually accompanied by the Laughing Buddha. He/she wears a mask and a robe.
The Laughing Buddha teases the lion with a fan to make him jump, roll around, lie down, etc.
As they wind down the streets, people along the way will "feed "hong paos" (red envelopes) with money inside to the Lion.

This will bring good luck and fortune, and is considered a donation for the martial arts school setting up the performance.

Happy New Year
Chuc Mung Nam Moi
Golden Scroll
Golden Scroll
Colorful
Young Lions

Fan
Laughing Buddha
Good Fortune
Offerings
Red Envelopes & Cash
Lion Dancers

Agile Lion Dancers
Watching Lions
Lion Dancers
Lion Dance
Lion Dancers
Golden Lion

Lion Dancers
Taming Lions
Watching Lions
Lion Dance
Lion Dance
Tamed Lions

Lion Dance Troupe
Tamed Lions
Lion Dance
Lion Dancers
Lion Dance

Buz Kiefer 07-Feb-2016 14:11
Wonderful capture of this brightly colored new year celebrations. Excellent gallery, Lynn. Vote.

Richard Calmes 04-Feb-2016 17:29
Interesting and colorful! V

Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro) 01-Feb-2016 13:30
Fantastic composition and colors,V
Paolo

Don Mottershead 30-Jan-2016 23:20
Excellent gallery. Great job capturing the colour, details and action. ~V~

Jeff Real 30-Jan-2016 15:48
This wonderful gallery tells this story in a fantastic way...really fine work, Lynn. ~V~

Carl Carbone 30-Jan-2016 15:34
Beautiful series! You really captured the essence of the Chinese New Year.

Tom LeRoy 25-Jan-2016 07:58
A great series of colorful and lively images of this traditional celebration. Hope the lions bring good luck to everybody! V

Helen Betts 25-Jan-2016 07:06
Nicely captured and very colorful gallery of this fun event. V.

joseantonio 17-Jan-2016 16:47
very nice series....V.

click on thumbnails for full image

Happy New Year	Chuc Mung Nam Moi	Golden Scroll	Golden Scroll	Colorful	Young Lions
Fan	Laughing Buddha	Good Fortune	Offerings	Red Envelopes & Cash	Lion Dancers
Agile Lion Dancers	Watching Lions	Lion Dancers	Lion Dance	Lion Dancers	Golden Lion
Lion Dancers	Taming Lions	Watching Lions	Lion Dance	Lion Dance	Tamed Lions
Lion Dance Troupe	Tamed Lions	Lion Dance	Lion Dancers	Lion Dance

Buz Kiefer		07-Feb-2016 14:11
Wonderful capture of this brightly colored new year celebrations. Excellent gallery, Lynn. Vote.

Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)		01-Feb-2016 13:30
Fantastic composition and colors,V Paolo

Don Mottershead		30-Jan-2016 23:20
Excellent gallery. Great job capturing the colour, details and action. ~V~

Jeff Real		30-Jan-2016 15:48
This wonderful gallery tells this story in a fantastic way...really fine work, Lynn. ~V~

Carl Carbone		30-Jan-2016 15:34
Beautiful series! You really captured the essence of the Chinese New Year.

Tom LeRoy		25-Jan-2016 07:58
A great series of colorful and lively images of this traditional celebration. Hope the lions bring good luck to everybody! V

Helen Betts		25-Jan-2016 07:06
Nicely captured and very colorful gallery of this fun event. V.