Lion Dance

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"A long time ago a strange creature came to China, terrified and ate, the villagers and animals, this mighty creature they called a NIEN, they set to beat it with first the fox, then the tiger, in despair the people called upon the great lion to help protect them, The lion shook its mighty head, and attacked the creature, driving it away with ease, running away it's tail between its legs, it warned it would return.
A year later it did return, however the lion could not help as it had been set guarding the Emperor's gate.
Hoping to fool the nien,two men using bamboo and cloth made a colourful image of a mighty lion, and as they danced and gestured to the beast, it was fooling into thinking a mighty lion had come to protect the people and ran away for another year ! "

The "lion dance" is conducted in the few days leading up to the Chinese new year, however it is also popular at weddings, new businesses, opening of stores, kung fu schools, or homes, its significance remains that of driving away of evil, thereby bringing good luck and fortune.

The dance is performed by two dancers, one at the head, one at the body/ tail,, the head made out of strong but light paper-mache, and bamboo.
a new lion is brought "to life" by the painting of its eyes.
the "lion" is accompanied by three musicians, playing a drum, cymbals, and a gong, sometimes a clown or little " Buddha" with interact with the lion , teasing it with a ball or fan.
Most dancers belong to kung fu schools or attend acrobatic classes, these dance to the cadence of the music. (this music, sometimes along with firecrackers, helps in the driving away of evil spirits, evil spirits being afraid of loud noises)
The climax of the lion dance is the " eating of greens" or Choi Cheng, these are vegetable leaves which are tied to a piece of string, which should also contain some money within a red packet , this is hung for the lion to "eat" as the leaves are chewed the music starts to increase in tempo until finally the lion explodes into motion again spitting out the leaves to signify an abundance of good luck and fortune for the coming year.

Although not native to China, the rulers of modern day Iran and Afgahanistan sent lions to the Chinese Emperors as gifts, to help with trading along the " silk road"

The lion dance dates back at least to the Han Dynasty (205 B.C - 220 A.D)

Both Korea and Taiwan (lions native to neither of these) have "lion" dances although not exactly the same the symbolising of the driving away of evil or bad luck, remains the same.