Lion brings New Year, culture to AES Ancient tradition offers joy, prosperity

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angelique Smythe
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Members of the Chinese School of Guam visited Andersen Elementary School to perform the Lion Dance Jan. 18.

The lion dance is traditionally performed during the Chinese Lunar New Year as an expression of joy and happiness.

The Chinese Lunar New Year begins Feb. 18.

"During the Chinese New Year, we perform all over Guam - restaurants, hotels and stores," said Tracy Wu, 17, a member of the Chinese School of Guam. "It's really fun. We practice once a week and when we get together we do our best. It's a pretty good experience and we're honored to perform for everyone here on Andersen."

The Lion Dance is an extracurricular activity for middle and high school students.

"We did this in January because it matches the western schools' new year," said Julie Lui, an Andersen Elementary School 4th grade teacher.

Ms. Lui was born in Hong Kong, China, and is the only Chinese teacher at the elementary school. Members of the Partnership Community Committee, which is made up of teachers and parents, requested she use her connections to have the troupe perform as a way to bring some Chinese culture and community involvement into the school.

"I think it's wonderful the school tries to bring in all the different cultures for the base to see and experience," said Kim Bell, Andersen Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten paraprofessional.

The lion approaches Ray Scantlan, Andersen Elementary School vice principal, to eat the lettuce, which symbolizes prosperity for the new year.


The group included children from ages 12 to 17.

"In China, they begin dancing as early as three years old," said Ms. Lui.

The lion dance was stemmed from a folktale.

Ms. Lui said, "When villagers in China first saw a lion thousands of years ago, they were really afraid because lions are not native to China. This lion would always visit and scare them during the new year. So, from memory, they made their own lion out of products, such as bamboo and paper machete. Kung fu fighters imitated the lion moves to scare the real lion away. Since then, they saw the lion as a symbol of courage, bravery, and of bringing a prosperous new year."

As the lion came on scene during the performance at Andersen Elementary School, it prowled, blinked its eyes, opened its mouth and flickered its ears. A drum, gong and cymbals played as the lion performed its martial arts-like dance upon stage and among the audience.

After the dance, the vice principal, Ray Scantlan, attempted to feed the lion some lettuce tied to a long pole. Instead of immediately taking it, the lion hesitantly proceeded to get the lettuce but would run away.

Once it finally decided to snatch the lettuce, the lion "chewed" it, only to throw it all back on the Mr. Scantlan.

The lion wanted the lettuce, but was afraid of the person holding it, explained Ms. Lui. That's why he kept running away. The lettuce symbolized prosperity for the new year.

"I thought it was funny when he spit the lettuce back at the vice principal," said Cassie Brunett, 6, daughter of Cmdr. Chris Brunett, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Five.