Lion Dance

During Chinese New Year, almost every business in Hong Kong participates in a Lion Dance. The Lion is controlled by two martial artists, one that controls the head, and one that controls the body. This is different from the dragon dance, which requires numerous people, and the dragon's body is held up on poles.

Before the lion arrives, the businesses hang lettuce wrapped in a bow from the main doorway. It is reminiscent of mistletoe, with a different intention. The Mandarin word for leafy veggie is cai(4) meaning it has the 4th tone, while the word for wealth is cai(2). So, the lion's job is to pluck the leafy greens from the doorway, chew them up, then spit them out at the employees of the business. It is good luck if the employees catch a piece, and hopefully the business will get lots of wealth that year! I got to watch the dance at my Mandarin school, and a different lion visited Drew at his office as well.  Often times the Lion Dances are held on the day celebrating the god of wealth Cai Shen, but I think there are so many businesses in Hong Kong, they can't all be visited by the lions on the same day. So it gets spread out over the second week of Chinese New Years. Just another cool piece of the Chinese New Years fun!