YOKOHAMA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yokohama Chinatown will be celebrating this year's Spring Festival on February 3rd, 2011, which is the first day of the New Year based on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. During this festive season, the Chinese celebrate the New Year with performances of the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance. People will dance to the sound of the drum and pray for the blessing of good harvest and good health.
Two nights before New Years of February 3rd, the streets of Yokohama Chinatown will be filled with the bursts and smoke of firecrackers to rejoice the start of the New Year. This event will be held in the two sacred temples of Yokohama Guandimiao and Mazumaio. The following day, four Lion Dance performances will be held to entertain the spectators with the "tsai qin" dance. During the "tsai qin" dance, performers visit the stores of Chinatown and seek the "hong pao", a red package filled with money. In return, they bless the store with good business and prosperity.
Various other events will be held during this season, such as the "gorakuhyouen" temple concert in Yamashita Park on the 5th, 11th, 12th and the 13th of February, where Lion Dances and Dragon Dances are performed. Four female performers will also sing and dance to traditional Chinese music.
The main event of the Spring Festival is the parade of "shukumaikuukou", which will be performed on the 6th. Visitors of Yokohama Chinatown will be able to enjoy various Dragon Dance and Lion Dance performances. This is the single day in the year where a collaboration of Lion Dances will be presented by experienced performers, students, and local children. Moreover, participants of the parade will join the Dancing Lions in various Chinese native costumes. The finale of the festival is marked with the candle light service on the 17th; believed where prayers and hopeful messages will be presented to the mighty heaven.
During the festival, many Japanese people and tourists from various countries visit Yokohama Chinatown to enjoy the authentic events and culture of the Chinese New Year.