Source: chinaculture.org

01-17-2008 17:33

In southern China Guangzhou City, Lunar New Year is marked with a series of jolly activities, among which lion dance always attracts the biggest audience.

As lion is regarded traditionally as a mascot, lion dances are performed to bring luck and to ward off evil spirits. The lion makes dramatic head thrusts to the sound of drums and gongs. Either the person performing in the lion head or the drummer initiates the movement and signals the other, so that the movement and music is synchronized. Certain movements must follow a specified sequence. Variations to the basic beats help keep the music lively. The loud music, along with the firecrackers and lion movements, is used to scare away "evil spirits" so that good luck will follow.

 

Editor:Liu Fang