GONG XI FA CA!That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means, “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin. Billions of people around the world are wishing for prsoperity as they were ringing in the new year on January 23, 2012--the Chinese New Year, that is, the biggest holiday celebration in China and other parts of Asia. San Luis Obispo is doing the same as Cal Poly’s Chinese Student Association (C.S.A.) is preparing for their 55th Annual Chinese New Year Banquet to be held on January 28th.
The team performed its ninth annual community blessing ceremony at the Volumes of Pleasure Bookshop in Los Osos last week. “The year of the dragon is revered. The dragon is the only mythical animal in the Asian zodiac,” explained owners Barbara Strauss. “For centuries, the ritual would scare monsters and evil spirits, but today it empowers business prosperity and health, long life and good luck for patrons.” Strauss attended a trade show in San Francisco 10 years ago that coincided with the Chinese New Year’s Parade. They followed the dragon dancers in and out of retail shops offering the ritual blessings. “It was exciting and beautiful. We wanted to bring the concept to Los Osos,” Strauss said. “We invited the Cal Poly Lion Dance Team to share their culture.” By tradition, the payment for the lion dance members is hidden in a head of lettuce, and dancers must find it like a piñata. Ravaged lettuce pieces landing on guests bring prosperity. Up to 20 dancers wear vibrant colors and know to approach children gently without frightening them. The Cal Poly Lion Dance Team performed all this week and last, but they are not slowing down for Cal Poly’s Chinese New Year Celebration Banquet. “We’re going to have three separate performances of different difficulties representing the students progression through the year,” explained Goodwin. “There will be lots of jumping, running and standing from the lions.” There will also be a performance from the San Luis Obispo Wushu Taichi Center. The center has been performing at the banquet for the past twenty years. “Taichi is Chinese martial arts and also it’s the most popular exercise for people in the general daily life,” said Liu Yiu, the professional martial artist and owner of the Wushu Taichi Center. “It’s a gentle slow martial art movement with other forms. The taichi can help improve people’s health, balance, and the flexibility.” The practice of taichi develops harmony of mind and body, reducing stress and increasing inner peacefulness. |
Cal Poly Lion Dance Costumes
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