DE Asst. Features Editor

An 8-foot lion came to life and danced wildly to the seductive beat of a kettle drum in front of a silent crowd of more than 300 people in a red-adorned Student Center Ballroom Sunday.

The lion dance performance was presented at the Chinese New Year Celebration/Banquet. The event was an opportunity for the Chinese and Taiwan Student Associations to share the customs and traditions of their New Year as part of the International Festival.

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The lion’s body consisted of a huge grinning mask painted with bright pink, yellow and green colors and a satin-cloth body draped behind its head. The lion’s movements were operated by two men inside the body.

Yih-Yee Wong, co-master of ceremonies, said the lion dance is the most significant Chinese tradition during the New Year. She said the dance creates a festive atmosphere for the 15-day celebration.

The wild colors on the mask and the movements of the lion to music helps put everyone in a good festive mood, she said. The dance is usually performed in a public place for everyone to see.

The energetic movements of the lion made the dance look simple, but the sweat-drenched bodies of the performers provided a clue to the weight of the 60-pound head.

It looks easy, but it’s not, Wong said. Moving the body and head of the lion around can be very tiring.

A mini-theater presented different kinds of skits to familiarize the audience with the meanings behind superstitious practices during the New Year.

Some of the superstitions portrayed were the practices against sweeping the floor and wearing black on the first day of the New Year.

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Vivian Yang, president of the Taiwan Student Association, said most of the rituals are practiced to bring good fortune for the following year.

If something is spilled on the floor, you are not allowed to sweep out of fear that good luck will be brushed away, she said. People can not wear black. They must wear colors to scare away the evil spirits.

Traditional folk dances and songs also were performed. The crowd participated in a riddle-guessing game, a tradition during the last day of the festival. Questions were asked in both Chinese and English, and prizes were rewarded for correct answers.

This is the first year the Chinese New Year Celebration was part of the International Festival at SIUC. Yang said she wanted to make the event campus-wide.

I want America to understand our culture, she said. You see the Chinese students sitting in class together apart from the American students. I want them to understand each other. This is a small way to bring them closer together.

Wan Kamal Wan Napi, president of the International Student Council, said he was pleased with the turnout for the event. He said he hopes to add a New Year celebration as part of the festival each year.

I want to make a proposition to maybe have a different country hold a New Year celebration every year, he said. The Chinese New Year went very well this year. I hope to see someone else hold one next year.