Continuing celebrations in Tiong Bahru – Part 2:

The Lunar New Year period is always an occasion for the appearance of Lion Dances… Do you know that the Lion is not native to China, but was first introduced to China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) by emissaries from Greece to the Chinese court. And since that time, they have been a favourite animal of the Han Chinese!


Here in Tiong Bahru, our Market is a great place to observe the appearance of the Southern Lions (characterized by a body made of layered fabric, unlike the Northern Lions – whose bodies are made of layered ‘hair’) who are engaged by businesses to ‘open’ their premises in a most auspicious way in the New Year. Today and Tomorrow, as well as next weekend, would be a good chance to come by and see the Lions.


Here are some lions from Boon Tiong RC Lion Dance Troupe that were performing at the Market today. Its a special version where by the Lions must break a set of 8 'sar po' or Chinese earthen ware brewing pots, to get to the plate of lucky greens.



Setting out the sar po pots.



Discussing the strategy...







Now that the pots have been overcome by the powerful lion's paws... time to tackle the greens!











After the lucky mandarin orange peel has been scattered towards the shop and the boss.... its the tricky task of arranging the rest of the greens....






Just what is going on in the Lion's belly?







And finally, what do we have? Lucky Greens and Lucky Golds (pun on the Hokkien/Cantonese/Mandarin term for Mandarin Oranges), spelling out: Forune!
Great Auspiciousness! and Great Prosperity!, and a lucky number for you to buy at 4D this week!



HUAT AH!

That's Hokkien for 'To Prosper and to Strike it Big!'