Chinese New Year

Well it was Chinese New Year on 26th January and this year marks the Year of the Ox... which is little old me... so HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME!!

Every year we try to take part in the Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown. Unfortunately we missed Chinese New Year in 2008 as we were on the Sunshine Coast so it had been nearly two years since Spencer had experienced the tradition of the Lion Dancers!

This year we caught the train into Fortitude Valley with Alan's parents and enjoyed a banquet dinner at China House.

Back in 2007 Spencer seemed to enjoy the lion dance... full of colour and movement... but not this year... the poor little guy was absolutely terrified.

As soon as the drums and cymbols started he froze in his seat and then ran over to me. I assured him that the noise he could hear was only drums and that nothing could harm him... this seemd to calm him a little... until the lion dancers appeared!

Well as you can see by the photos he was terrified. I tried to explain to him that the lions weren't real and that there were men under the lion costumes - even showing him the men but he was still very scared, sitting on my lap trembling and gripping my arms with his little hands.

Throughout the performance he calmed down enough to stop crying and once the music stopped and the lions had disappeared he clapped his hands and said "that was fun"... I guess until next year!