How's that for a cryptic title? Reminds me of my Army-kid days...in case you couldn't figure it out, it means Chinese New Year at Xiamen International School. I'm behind again on my postings as this event was held in early February. Chinese New Year landed on February 14 this year and the school had a two week break (lucky us, we got two weeks off at Christmas and another two weeks for CNY, but the school year is longer, so don't be too jealous). This celebration was held on the last day of school before the break. The school had hired special performers to put on the lion dance (at least I think that's what it is called) in the gym. This first picture isn't too great, but it shows the legs of the two dancers in the white lion outfit. There was much drumming and running around as a story of some sort was portrayed. As usual, I know nothing of the history of this spectacle, but enjoyed watching it anyway.
The lions caught up with the guy-in-yellow and pounced on his back...
Oh, no, don't eat me, lion!
Victory at last...man tames the lions. Or something like that.
The inner courtyard of the school had some traditional CNY decorations. It is difficult to see in the picture, but the rope knot hanging was probably three or four feet long, including the tassel. The end of the two-week-long CNY holiday is capped with the Lantern Festival, so lanterns are displayed for about a month. They were all over town and became quite dusty and dirty by the end! Most of the decorations featured red and gold as these are auspicious colors that depict good luck and good fortune.
Amanda's teacher and his cool, gold Chinese jacket. We were encouraged to send our children to school in their traditional Chinese outfits, but we do not own any.
Traditional craftspeople were on hand to create special treats for the children. This is spun sugar (not unlike that which Laura and Mary made back on the prairie, minus the snow!) expertly dripped and swirled into the shapes of the Chinese zodiac animals. This rooster represents the year of my birth, by the way.
Our fellow American was thrilled with his dragon candy-on-a-stick. Not sure what he had to do to get such a complicated and "lucky" animal, but it sure turned out nice!
Amanda welcomed the year of the tiger with a pin-the-tail-on game. Long live the Tiger!
How's that for a cryptic title? Reminds me of my Army-kid days...in case you couldn't figure it out, it means Chinese New Year at Xiamen International School. I'm behind again on my postings as this event was held in early February. Chinese New Year landed on February 14 this year and the school had a two week break (lucky us, we got two weeks off at Christmas and another two weeks for CNY, but the school year is longer, so don't be too jealous). This celebration was held on the last day of school before the break. The school had hired special performers to put on the lion dance (at least I think that's what it is called) in the gym. This first picture isn't too great, but it shows the legs of the two dancers in the white lion outfit. There was much drumming and running around as a story of some sort was portrayed. As usual, I know nothing of the history of this spectacle, but enjoyed watching it anyway.
The lions caught up with the guy-in-yellow and pounced on his back...
Oh, no, don't eat me, lion!
Victory at last...man tames the lions. Or something like that.
The inner courtyard of the school had some traditional CNY decorations. It is difficult to see in the picture, but the rope knot hanging was probably three or four feet long, including the tassel. The end of the two-week-long CNY holiday is capped with the Lantern Festival, so lanterns are displayed for about a month. They were all over town and became quite dusty and dirty by the end! Most of the decorations featured red and gold as these are auspicious colors that depict good luck and good fortune.
Amanda's teacher and his cool, gold Chinese jacket. We were encouraged to send our children to school in their traditional Chinese outfits, but we do not own any.
Traditional craftspeople were on hand to create special treats for the children. This is spun sugar (not unlike that which Laura and Mary made back on the prairie, minus the snow!) expertly dripped and swirled into the shapes of the Chinese zodiac animals. This rooster represents the year of my birth, by the way.
Our fellow American was thrilled with his dragon candy-on-a-stick. Not sure what he had to do to get such a complicated and "lucky" animal, but it sure turned out nice!
Amanda welcomed the year of the tiger with a pin-the-tail-on game. Long live the Tiger!
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