What is the difference between the lion and dragon in Chinese New Year, a vendor at the Downtown Lihue Night Market wanted to know as the serpent emerged from the alley adjacent to Robert’s Jewelry.
What is the difference between the lion and dragon in Chinese New Year, a vendor at the Downtown Lihue Night Market wanted to know as the serpent emerged from the alley adjacent to Robert’s Jewelry.
In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes strength, stability and superiority and is a protector of the weak, while the dragon represents strength, power, good fortune and prosperity, and is connected with traits like intelligence, ambition and charisma. Both are performed during significant events like the Chinese New Year that started on Jan. 29 with the festivities extending through the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12.
Kudos and mahalo to the Saam Fu Chinese Cultural Arts that brought good fortune and prosperity through its pair of lions that visited numerous places during its two-day tour on Kauai. The Saam Fu lions started with a tour of a preschool before moving on to the Princeville Center.
On its way to the Hanapepe Art Night, the lion stopped at Hale Lihue which is celebrating its Grand Opening on Wednesday with the Kauai Chamber of Commerce Pau Hana After Hours (Hale Lihue will serve spirits at night).
The Saam Fu lions concluded their tour on Saturday with a visit to the Kauai Museum before gracing the Kukui Grove Center with an encore of good luck wishes following the visit and performance of the Tsunami Taiko trio of lions.
The Downtown Lihue Night Market changed things up with a surprise visit of the dragon from Moloaa that was accompanied by a troupe of dancers performing dances inspired by India and China cultures.
Kung Hee Fat Choi!
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Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-0453 or at dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
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