Today was Chinese New Year, the year of the Rat. Part of the celebration at the Dynasty Casino included loud fireworks and a blessing ceremony by two 'lions'. Two men in elaborate lion costumes dance in a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits from the store, room, or building.
Prior to the ceremony, men hung lettuce over the entrance. It seems that hanging lettuce is a sign of good luck. When the 'lions' or 'dragons' come into the building, they eat the lettuce that has been hung over the doorway or entrance: an offering to the gods, I suppose. At the Dynasty, after the lions entered with loud fireworks, and drums, they ate the lettuce, circled the main interior courtyard, then went to each and every store and restaurant in the hotel, 'blessing' each by a similar ritual.
There were a lot of children there, and even a school class had come to watch the ceremony.
Afterward Terri and I went to lunch, then went swimming and snorkeling at Tachogna beach. They were in the process of building booths there that will be used for the Hot Pepper Festival next weekend.
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