EVENT DAY SCHEDULE
Performances on Delaware at Fourth Street (1780 Fourth Street, Berkeley)

12pm Martial Arts Demo
12:30pm LION DANCE
1:30pm Parade & Blessings
3pm Grand Finale

Plus...

• 11-4PM 35 Shops giving away traditional good luck candies to kids
• 11-4PM Create free Good Luck Magnets with Stained Glass Garden
• 11-4PM Create free Chinese Paper Lanterns with Half the Sky Foundation
• 12-4 Coloring Books for Kids at BeneFit
• 12-2pm Chinese Calligraphy with Jean Lee from Fourth Street Flowers
• 2-4pm Chocolate Tasting at The Pasta Shop
• 12-5pm Hair Consult/Samples at Aveda
• 7PM Fengshui for the New Year with Master Boon at Teance (reservations & $45/person)

Lantern Making with
Half the Sky Foundation

LION DANCE TRADITIONS &
STORE BLESSINGS
by Winnie Yu,
Co-Founder, Teance Fine Teas

In this event, the lion is ‘woken’ by drums, telling him it’s time to chase away evil spirits, and then spread prosperity by spewing lettuce. Lettuce signifies ‘growing wealth’ so if one is hit it is good luck. Usually there is a theme each year, according to the animal horoscope the year belongs to. This year it is the year of the Hare. The theme also involves a puzzle the lion has to solve, as in our case there is no competition.  At the end, the lions offer a couple of banners with good wishes for the new year.

The lions go into each store, ‘washes away evil ‘ by symbolic licking of the doorway and entrance, bow to the owners, and lick the cash register, play with the customers. The owners offer lisee to the lions. Usually the more you give, the more wealth you are expecting next year (you expect to afford it). When the lions perform the ‘3 bow’ the owners bow back.



Golden Lion Martial Arts School, Albany


 

LUNAR CHINESE NEW YEAR 2011
Saturday, February 12th

2011 PRESS RELEASE HERE


Thank You Cory and everyone from
Kei Lun Martial Arts and Lion Dance!

LUNAR NEW YEAR TRADITIONS
by Winnie Yu, Co-Founder, Teance Fine Teas

The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday for Asians, particularly for the Chinese. It was believed that how prosperous or successful the year will be is dependent on how well the festivities were handled. These festivities begin one day before the day of the new year, and usually lasts one month. During this time, many symbolic events, gestures, and rules are observed.

  1. Using the color red and loud noises to repel evil spirits
  2. Using the colors red, gold, yellow, and orange for good luck. To that end, gifts wrapped in those colors are good, and any fruits, particularly citrus ones are good.
  3. Fruits:  Pommelo, kumquat, oranges, mandarins, tangerines, and peaches are considered auspicious fruits to have around.
  4. Giving Lisee:  Red envelopes of money are given to anyone of a younger generation than yourself, and any employees. The giver must be a married adult to qualify. The recipient can be any employee or unmarried adult or young child. Generally, it’s given to children. The content can be anything from 1 dollar. Certain unlucky numbers are avoided.
  5. The number 4 is usually forbidden, the numbers 5 and 7 are avoided.
  6. The numbers 8=prosperity, # 6=fame, #3=survival, #9=longevity or permanence, #2=good things come in pairs
  7. Flowers: extremely important, flowers symbolize blooming prosperity. Only colors allowed are the ones above. Popular flowers: quince, plum, narcissus (though white), gladiolus, any others in red or yellow
  8. Clothing: Bright colors, avoid black, white, beige, blue. Wear flowers or lots of gold or jade jewelry.
  9. Decorations:  Calligraphy on red paper that says ‘Fok’ or fortune. Lots of golden color items, like Pommelo or tangerines, and lots of flowers. Sometimes strings of firecrackers are hung.  Gold or jade items displayed.
  10. Popular gifts: Fruits, candy for the kids. For adults: Tea, pastries, artwork, vases and household items. VIPs, older folks get jewelry in gold (not silver) or jade. 
  11. Popular pastries:  Nian Gao, a sticky sweet rice cake, fried sweet dumplings, and many others. The number of pastries served vary by region and are countless in the thousands. Usually something round is preferred as roundness symbolizes unity.
Formalities:  Visiting relatives, friends, greeting them for a prosperous new year. Then, visit stores of people you know. In those visits, the children say “Gong Hay Fat Choy” and receive lisee/red envelopes instantly. For stores where the children don’t know the owners, they get candy or fruits.


GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!