The Year of the Rabbit officially began on February 3rd this year. As I said farewell to the Tiger and welcomed the Rabbit, I realized that I have been a little cranky lately. I haven't decided whether it's because of the realization that I love my new job and may actually make a career out of this experience and it freaks me out or whether it's because being away from home is becoming a realization and it's hard to miss the day to day closeness of family and friends. Either way, I have decided that I need to make more of an effort to remain connected and I need to enjoy and appreciate life as I live it. So, here's to a new year filled with opportunities and met with gratitude.
For the Chinese New Year a local martial art school provides people to form lion dance troupes complete with a traveling band, huge lion, human barriers to keep the crowds back, and men to let off the fireworks. This entourage visits the homes and shops of the Chinese community to perform the traditional custom of "cai ching", which means plucking the greens. The purpose of this quest is to collect fruits, vegetables, and red envelopes filled with money from doorways in the community. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business and the troupe is rewarded with the red envelope. During my recent experience in Chinatown in Yokohama, there were only red envelopes hanging over the doorways which the two men acting as the lion plucked down. The show was quite phenomenal as the lion and entourage approached the doorway and did an opening dance. Then it went inside to confront the business owners and continue the dance. The lion always backed out the door as he continued to dance with the finale being an acrobatic feat to reach the envelope with the lion's mouth. The dance concluded with fireworks being let off further down the street. Overall, it was loud and energetic and fun. It was definitely an interesting evening...hopefully I can make it to China someday to see the grand version of the same show. Happy New Year!
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