CULTURE: Trad itional food, dances and gifts are part of South Bay celebrations of Lunar New Year.

By Jasmine Lee
DAILY BREEZE

Four colorful beasts danced — frantic, jerky movements punctuated by a banging beat — chasing away the evil spirits to usher in the Lunar New Year with good luck.

Performers from the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu in Lomita — garbed in elaborate costumes with monstrous head masks — jumped, lunged and rolled over as they put on the traditional Lion Dance.

The group has been performing throughout the South Bay as the new year, the biggest holiday in most Asian cultures, approaches. Saturday will begin the Year of the Ram.

The dance, accompanied by drums and cymbals, features a fantastical creature — a lion with a hint of dragon. Two men operate each lion, combining art with kung fu moves.

“It enhances love and joy and happiness,” said Manuel Marquez, the president and master instructor of Shaolin Temple.

Legend tells of a Chinese emperor who dreamed that a strange-looking animal saved his life. The lion became a symbol of good luck, although the animal is not native to the country.

When the Shaolin Temple group performed last week in Torrance, 16-year-old Derek Zhang sat in the audience and enjoyed the production, not too different from those in his native China. As a child, Derek — a North Torrance High School junior who moved to the United States two years ago — looked forward to the holiday at the beginning of each year, also known as the Spring Festival.

There was always a big feast with some of his favorite seafood dishes. There was always a parade. But Derek’s favorite part was the money. Traditionally, children receive red paper envelopes with cash. Derek said sometimes he would get $20 or $30 in an envelope.

“It’s a very, very good day,” he said. His family continues the tradition, but on a smaller scale.

For most Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese residents in the South Bay, the Lunar New Year is significant, but impossible to celebrate in the same way as they did in their native countries.

It has become a more private holiday, centering on home and families.

In Taiwan, Hermosa Beach resident Katie Chen said many people would take two weeks off from work and school to celebrate. It was a major production, the preparation of lavish meals, firecrackers, street fairs.

“In Taiwan, it’s a big celebration,” she said. “Here, usually, we have to go to work.”

Instead, Chen will celebrate with a small, intimate family dinner Friday night on new year’s eve. She and her 15-year-old son make origami together to decorate for the holiday.

Families still feast on traditional new year’s food: sweet rice cakes for a sweet new year, dumplings shaped like old-fashioned money; fish with a name that sounds like the Chinese word for leftovers, signifying an abundant year to come.

Parents and older relatives still hand out red envelopes to children, who may not appreciate the tradition behind it, but willingly pocket the money.

In an effort to keep the customs alive, some cultural schools and civic groups are holding public events.

The South Bay Chinese School in Rolling Hills Estates will celebrate on Feb. 8 with a traditional dinner, music and dance. The event, with tickets ranging from $20 to $100, is a fund-raiser for the school, but it is also a way to spread diversity, said Jackie Wang-Dojiri, a board member.

“Educating the community about Chinese culture, that is the main purpose,” she said.

Both students and professionals will perform in the program, featuring Chinese acrobatics, folk dancing, music and a fashion show.

The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce held its seventh annual Dragon Circle Chinese New Year Celebration on Thursday with a dim sum dinner and entertainment, which included a performance by the Shaolin Temple dancers.

More and more Chinese companies are coming to the area, such as the event’s host, herbal products maker Sunrider International, said Richard Tsao, a past chairman of the Torrance chamber who helped organize the event.

A few women in attendance wore a cheongsam, a long dress with a high neck and slits up the sides.

As the Lion Dance came to a close, people rose from dinner and fed red paper envelopes into the mouth of one of the lions — a tip for a vigorous performance, but also a way to ensure a prosperous new year for themselves.

Shaolin’s Marquez, who not only teaches the Lion Dance but also kung fu and other Chinese arts, laughed because none of the performers is Asian. Still, they know the culture and will celebrate the new year at the temple by paying respect to kung fu masters and sharing a dinner.

But it won’t end with that. The group will continue to perform at other Lunar New Year celebrations around Southern California, including the Golden Dragon Parade in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 8.

“We’re booked till the end of March,” Marquez said.

Publish Date:January 28, 2003