Chinese lion dance in Kingston
THE CHINESE Benevolent Association (CBA) is reviving the tradition of conducting lion dances in front of various establishments in downtown Kingston around the time of the Chinese New Year, which officially falls on February 16 this year.
We hope these dances will expose the Jamaican public shopping in the area to this colourful and entertaining aspect of Chinese culture and tradition.
In Chinese tradition, the lion dances in front of or inside the establishment, eats some symbolic food (lettuce), bestows blessings and good luck on it, and accepts a token donation in a red envelope.
It is vibrant, colourful, and entertaining and will attract members of the public in and around the areas where the lion dance performances take place.
Today, the Chinese lion dance will be performed at Scotiabank, 2 Knutsford Boulevard, in New Kingston, at 1 p.m.
Tomorrow morning, Saturday, February 17, beginning at 9:30 a.m., the lion dance will be performed in the downtown Kingston shopping district in the vicinity of Heywood Street, Princess Street, and Orange Street, followed by Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre, General Foods Supermarket, and Heecha, all located in Liguanea Plaza.
It promises to be an exciting spectacle for young and old alike.
CBA festivities continue with traditional Chinese kites, including dragon kites, at the St Ann Kite Festival on Easter Sunday, April 1.