The Origin and Customs of Lion Dance

Origin: Lion Dance originated from ancient myths and legends in China. According to legend, there is a god beast named "lion", which has the power to ward off evil spirits and can bring good luck. People began to imitate the image of the lion and dance, hoping to get peace and good luck in sacrifices or celebrations. Custom: Lion dance is very common in China's folk activities, especially in the Spring Festival, opening ceremony, celebrations and other important occasions. The following are some common customs of lion dance: Before the lion dance performance, there is usually a ceremony called "opening your eyes". Performers will light an iron rod with fire, and then light the pupil of the lion's eyes with a hot rod, which symbolizes the lion's "awakening" and glows with vitality and agility. Drum music: lion dance performances are usually accompanied by drums and gongs and drums, and lion dancers will dance with the drums to add a lively and festive atmosphere. Walking on stilts: In some places, stilts are used in lion dance performances, and performers imitate the movements of lions by walking on stilts, which increases the visual effect and difficulty of the performance. Stomatological performance: Some lion dance performance teams will also join the ventriloquism performance, and the performers will imitate the roar and roar of the lion with the lion's mouth to create a realistic atmosphere. As one of the representatives of China's traditional culture, the lion dance has not only been widely inherited and developed in China, but also received worldwide welcome and attention. It is not only entertaining and ornamental, but also an important way to inherit Chinese culture and values.