Colorful celebrations ring in Chinese year of the rooster
Organizations plan events to mark new year ending with Lantern Festival
The Daily Texan, 7 Feb 2005
Excerpt
Colorful celebrations ring in Chinese year of the rooster
Organizations plan events to mark new year ending with Lantern Festival
By Mark Son
Daily Texan Staff
Thunderous drum beats drew the crowd, which was in the parking lot munching on sesame balls, lo mein and rice cakes, into the building. Inside, a yellow lion with golden scales and a green horn on its head shook its body angrily to the beat. A Buddhist monk, dressed in a yellow cloak, stepped onto the stage and tried to calm the lion with a fan, but the lion danced more violently as the sounds of cymbals and gong joined drum beats. Soon, as if it couldn't contain its anger any longer, the lion jumped from the stage and escaped the building.
This lion dance marked the beginning of the second half of the Chinese New Year celebration at the Asian American Cultural Center on Saturday. More than 300 Asians, Latinos, blacks and whites — in short, Austinites — gathered to welcome the year of the rooster, which starts Feb. 9.
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When the crowd followed the lion outside , they found a red lion waiting for them, and as if the cool weather had eased their anger, the lions played with the children, performed tricks and kicked away the "evil spirit." After five playful minutes, both lions became tired and lay down , marking the end of the performance.
"A lion is supposed to bring good luck," said Richard Simental, spokesman for the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team. "I wish that everyone has a good year."