Lion Dance Malaysia

The Chinese believe it is good luck to give "Lucky Money" and also to have a lion dance as a way of blessing your property for the forth coming year, as soon as possible after New Year. Jackie the proprietor of our hotel in Kerching invited all the guests to watch the lion dance on New Years Day.
Strung across the court yard was lucky money in the distinctive red envelopes, and cabbage leaves. Do lions really like cabbage leaves? On the table were 4 bottles of beer, 1 per lion, and a plate of mandarins.
Announcing their arrival by exploding fireworks which incidentally are illegal in Malaysia, but everyone let them off over the holiday period, the 4 lions entered the court yard. Each one danced around to the drum beats of the accompanying musicians. The lions took turns to each drink the beer and dispose of the mandarins, which in another movement returned to the table exquisitely half peeled. Each lion then either jumped onto the table or the stand to “eat” the cabbage leaves and the lucky money, of course.
I was absolutely amazed at the agility of the lion, all be it, 2 men inside a lion costume. The bloke at the back end had to hoist the front chap up and then promptly jump up them selves in amongst a dance routine. These guys really were rhythmic keeping time with each other. As we walked through town that afternoon many lion troops were out blessing shops as they danced to the strong drum beat. While each one followed the same theme, each dance and routine was different. Happy New Year