Our building celebrated Chinese New Year today, with a lion dance and a dragon dance and a small banquet. I was glad especially to see the lion dance, as though I’ve seen the ‘dance’ bit of it quite a few times now, I’ve never been around, or close enough, on time, to watch the ritual cai qing part of it (though I’d have liked to when there was a lion dance at the Dior store the other day). This is the bit where the lion plucks the lettuce and gives it to the sponsor of the dance. I was pleased to receive an orange from the God of Prosperity himself, a rather fine looking divinity with genuine make-up, not a mask (like others I’ve seen), and a mighty aspect.
The dragon dance was tame by comparison though the music was a tad more complex. It was just a very skinny dragon and some of the dancers seemed less into it. The banquet was pleasant enough – I was on my own as the GF doesn’t care for this sort of buffet dining – neither do I, but I wanted to try it for once. There was lo bak goh (fried radish cakes, a Chinese New Year food), as well as ABC (which I’d not had before and having tasted it I definitely prefer cendol) and ice cream from One Scoop. Also some nice Hainanese chicken. Other than that it was as mediocre as one might expect, but it was a new experience at least.
I’m pleased about the orange.