Chinese New Year ~ Year of the Rat

We decided to celebrate the Chinese new year at Jasmine restaurant and give Shayna the opportunity to experience her culture. Good thing we reserved a table since anyone who showed up and didn't have a reservation was turned away. We ordered some tasty dishes and waited for the lion dancers to show up. They arrived towards the end of our meal and did not make a quiet entrance. There were 5 or 6 "lions" dancing around to the beat of the very loud drum which terrified Shayna. She was so startled by the loud noise and all the large costumes that I had to hold her during the entire performance. The interesting thing about Shayna is that she was both frightened and excited at the same time. She couldn't decide whether she should cry or laugh, and whenever everyone clapped, so did she. I don't think she was quite sure what the clapping was for. We handed the lion dancers the traditional red envelopes with $ in them as did many of the diners in this very large restaurant. This was the longest lion dance Carlton and I have ever seen and the very first one for Shayna. We hope to celebrate in a similar manner next year.

Gong hei fat choy!