Lion dancers roar in year of the rabbit in Laos
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A traditional Chinese lion dance procession roared in the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Association Chinoise Vientiane and Chinese Embassy in Vientiane on Thursday, the first day of the year of the rabbit.
Vientiane's Chinese community joined in a grand lion dance with large drums beating in procession to the Association Chinoise Vientiane to bless Lao and Chinese people with happiness and prosperity on the Lunar New Year, drawing many spectators in the Lao capital's old Chinatown neighborhood.
The group then performed at the Chinese Embassy for the embassy staff and Chinese Ambassador to Laos, Bu Jianguo, who said the Lunar New Year is the most important festival in China.
"On the occasion of arrival of Lunar New Year, I would like to take the opportunity to say a personal 'Happy New Year' to all Lao people and extend my best wishes to you in everything," she said.
Chinese New Year, which takes place on the same day as Vietnamese New Year, is one of a number of widely celebrated festivals in Laos. The large Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Vientiane ensured that the lucky color of red could be seen all over the town.
Families of Chinese residents overloaded their tables with dumplings, rice cakes, roasted pig, chicken, wine and other beverages, candy and cookies for a celebratory feast after praying to their ancestors. A shower of firecrackers was lit by some Chinese residents at midnight to welcome the new year.
Chinese families traditionally like to invite the lion dance to be performed at their homes and businesses as a symbolic ritual to usher in the New Year and ward off bad luck and evil spirits.
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