Everyone enjoys watching a nice lion dance. People of all ages are enthralled by the cymbals, the drumming, the acrobatics, and not to mention the pure joy that the mythical animals that resemble huge dogs do. You may be aware that lion dancing is a crucial component of the Lunar New Year festivities, but what does it actually signify and where did the custom originate? Here are some of the amazing lion dancing trivia you might need to be aware of.

There are no actual lions

The startling reality is that these "lions" are actually people, despite how lifelike they appear to be! If you look closely, you will see that they are actually two extremely talented dancers performing in unison while wearing lion costumes. The performance of the lion dance is such a greet to watch!

China doesn't have any lions

We all know that China is where the lion dance has its roots. Yet, did you know that merely a single lion has ever prowled China's plains? How did they create the lion's costume considering that lions are not native to China? Although lions are not native to China, they came to this country via the renowned Silk Road. In order to gain access to 'Silk Road traders,' rulers of what is now Iran and Afghanistan gave lions to China emperors as gifts.

The lion dance comes in a variety of forms

The kind of lions' dance that is more well-liked among Singaporeans is the southern school, which has its roots in Guangdong. It includes a lion with less fur and lots of vegetables. Yes, Vegan lions! Picking up a sprig of lettuce is known as "cai qing," which is thought to be extremely fortunate. Similar to the dragon dance in status, the lion dance is much more well-liked. Being the sole animal that is mortal among so many mythical beings must be an honor for lions!

A mirror is placed on the forehead

A magical mirror, representing the ability to frighten away evil spirits by reflecting their image against them, is adorning Lion's forehead. Even when we consider this idea, we nevertheless experience fear when we see our abhorrent reflections in the mirror. In addition, the five colors yellow, black, green, red, and white, which stand for the elements earth, water, wood, fire, and metal, are frequently used to signify lions.

Names

The names of the lions are taken from three mythical brothers from China's Three Kingdoms era. The face of Zhang Fei is the black-faced, black-maned creature with short eyebrows, while the Face of Guan Gong is the red-faced, black-maned version, and the Face of Liu Bei is the yellow-faced, white-maned type.

Meanwhile, different personalities can be found in northern and southern lions. The lions performing in the Northern lion dance are said to be aggressive, while the lions performing in the Southern lion dance are more playful and gentler.

Conclusion

The loud drums and colorful lions have long been a favorite on important occasions like opening new structures, businesses, and stores. Although the lions are able to hold onlookers of all ages anchored to the spot, only some people actually understand the tradition beyond the fact that it blinks. Thus, we've gathered the amazing 5 facts about the lion dances you will enjoy learning.