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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

by Ray Oyung

February 26, 1999

We're entering the year of the Rabbit, and a co-worker the other day gave me a description for the animals in the lunar calendar. The Rabbit is apparently the most fortunate of the bunch. Characteristics include being a smooth talker and ambitious. Any Rabbits out there (1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, and 1999)?

In addition to the work at NASA, I'm also a member of Kei Lun Martial Arts, and the San Francisco Wushu Team. Since the early weeks of February, our team has been performing lion dance and martial arts exhibitions all over the Bay Area for Chinese New Year. I think we've completed our 24th show of the season and some of the places we have been include several elementary schools, universities, senior citizen centers, Caesars Tahoe, Grace Cathedral, San Jose Center for Performing Arts, and San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts.

Lion dancing is one of those things you might have seen on TV or in a parade during this time of year with the lion dancing to the beat of drums and symbols. The lion symbolizes good luck and good fortune for the rest of the year and is actually a mythical creature (these lions have a horn on top of the head). There are different objects on these creatures that bring good luck and ward off evil spirits including a mirror on the forehead, and chinese green onions on top of the head. You can also tell the age of the lion by the color of the hair. Our lion is quite young, but if you see one with white hair, you'll know its pretty old. Also, these lions are friendly and stay on a strictly vegetarian diet, so not to worry. . .they wont gobble up kids for dinner!

Although it takes up quite a bit of time, there are many reasons why I do it. For one, it's fun seeing the faces of people young and not so young enjoying our performances while clapping their hands to the music and having a good time. A bigger reason is more on the cultural side. It serves as a reminder of my heritage and provides a mechanism to help me appreciate who I am and where I came from.

Gung Hay Fot Choy!

 
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