January - Year of the Rabbit

January had a week-long gale. Neither my husband nor I ever recall a gale lasting a week. The arrival of the Year of the Rabbit was celebrated in fine style in the city centre at the end of the month, by which time, fortunately, the weather was improved. Dublin has a festival for Lunar New Year, which is welcome at a time of a lull between Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. I remembered the last such festival I attended, with my journalism class, just before the Pandemic lockdown.

The stage was set up in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, and proceedings opened with a strutting lion dancer among the crowd, getting everyone’s attention.

On stage we then enjoyed a few traditional Chinese dances including the silk robe dance, showing off a beautiful and elaborate costume and painted fan. This
involved little foot movement, because the wealthy lady the dancer represented would have had bound feet in the past. By contrast we later saw a local tai-chi school performing various patterns and brandishing swords, long and short staves, and stretching every muscle.


Musical instruments were played one at a time to let us appreciate each instrument. These included the Chinese fiddle, Chinese flute, Chinese guitar, and table harp, each reminding us at once of Asian themed films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Some seriously impressive percussion instruments were played as a group, including large leather drums and a gong.

Then we saw the Lion Dance, as two prancing lions were fed heads of iceberg lettuce by a costumed character, while drums and cymbals crashed to indicate the lions’ importance and ferocity. There was also a comic magic trick, involving an egg and a fifty euro note. A vanishing note, I should add. Would it reappear? The audience member from whom it had been borrowed was kept in suspense.

I ate Philippine street food of good-sized pork and vegetable spring rolls with rice vinegar for dipping. The rolls were made on the spot and cooked before my eyes. They were piping hot, just what I needed. And extremely tasty. Other stalls provided chances to try calligraphy and origami. For Koreans, this year is the Year of the Cat, and either Cat or Rabbit is considered a lucky animal. I was already looking forward to two art exhibitions by friends for February, so I felt my year getting off to a good start.

This month I am making a science fiction novel free. Download Dining out Around The Solar System Part One, 22 – 25 February.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SONOGF0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SONOGF0

Catch up with my news, events and Young Adult Page on my website. www.clareobeara.ie