The Lion Dance

Chinese New Year is here and I went to a great party to celebrate. There was loads of things going on... but my favourite was the Chinese Lion dance!

Street celebrations in China often include a traditional lion dance which is thought to bring good luck. There are usually two dancers. One acts as the head and the other the body. They dance to a drum, cymbals and a gong. On the head of the lion is mirror so that evil spirits will be frightened away by their own reflections. As the lion runs along the streets they begin to visit different places. On their way they meets another person, the ‘Laughing Buddha’ who is dressed in monk’s robes and a mask. He teases the lion with a fan made of banana-leaves which makes the lion jump around.

The lion dancers need to be very fit. As the lion moves from place to place he looks for some green vegetables such as lettuce which are hung above the doors of houses or businesses. Hidden in the leaves is a red packet of money. The lion eats the lettuce and red packet. He then scatters lettuce leaves to symbolize a fresh start for the New Year and the spreading of good luck.


Any way, at the party, there was loads going on! First, all of the kids sat around and watched two people get into an amazing Chinese Lion suit and then do a dance around the room! It was really cool, and loud! Another person was playing the drums and they were really loud, we had to put our fingers in our ears! I thought I was going to go deaf!

I played the drums too!

Afterwards, loads of people did really interesting displays of Martial Arts. One of the men who did it looked quite old, but he was so nimble, it was really amazing! When the Martial Arts display was over, everyone had a few minutes to get a drink and a snack, then a special visitor came! Kung Fu Panda! He gave everyone fortune cookies and we all got a picture with him! He was so fluffy and soft!

Kung-Fu Panda

Fortune Cookies

Then everyone went into a different room and decorated our own dragon! Well, most kids did the cape and Elise did the head. It looked really cool when we'd finished it! Much better than the other kids'.

We used colourfull feathers to decorate the Lion

Then all of the kids went back to the other room and we got to do the Lion Dance ourselves! We all took turns wearing the lion suit and we got to walk around and roll over (even though me, Tilly and Lavinia were the only kids who rolled over...)! It was so cool! The head was really heavy, though!

That's me in the front.



The Head was really heavy!

Finally, most of the kids got to control a giant pink Dragon. You had to hold a pole in the air and you could control one bit of the dragon's body. It was so heavy, but I loved it! You had to run around with it and do tricks with it.

My favourite part was definitely watching the Lion Dance, it was so majestic! The kids at the front got to touch it aswell. It felt so fluffy, even it's silky cape was so soft.


I loved it! I can't wait until next year!