Year of the OX

On our way home from Dim Sum the other day Tyson and I came across a string of firecrackers three stories long hanging down from a building in China Town- we were curious.

We waited for about a half hour as official looking men arrived and a cable with money attached as long as the fire cracker string, with a head of lettuce attached at the bottom was lowered down from an upper window of the building. We had found ourselves smack dab in the start of a Kung Fu Club's Lion Dance Ceremony as part of the Chinese New Year Celebration.

Two dragons and fours lions (the kung fu club members in costume) fought it out on the street as HUNDREDS of fire crackers were thrown everywhere by men on the sidelines. After the black lion ate the lettuce and money string, the three story string of fire crackers were lit- the whole thing was such a fun spectacle to come across.

Tyson and I decided if we ever do the Origin of the Species Parade that we will be a Chinese Lion, because they are pretty awesome. The picture below can help you figure out what your Chinese zodiac animal is.

The Green Lion, representing friendship.

More information about the dance:

In the old days, the lettuce was hung 15 to 20 feet above ground and only a well-trained martial artists could reach the money while dancing with a heavy lion head. These events became a public challenge. A large sum of money was rewarded, and the audience expected a good show. Sometimes, if lions from multiple martial arts schools approached the lettuce at the same time, the lions are supposed to fight to decide a winner. The audience would judge the quality of the martial art schools according to how the lions fought. The winner lion would then use creative methods and martial art skills to reach the high-hanging reward. Some lions may dance on bamboo stilts and some may step on human pyramids formed by fellow students of the school. The performers and the schools would gain praise and respect on top of the large monetary reward when they did well.