Celebrate “Year of the Tiger” Chinese New Year Event Bayshore Courier News Posted:02/04/10
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Lincroft (Monmouth County, NJ) - A free festival welcomes the "Year of the Tiger" at Brookdale Community College. Brookdale invites the community to join in celebrating the Chinese New Year on Thursday, February 11. The festival take's place in the Warner Student Life Center Navesink room II beginning at 11:45 am and continuing until 1:20 pm.
Forty elementary and high school students from the Jersey Shore Chinese School will participate in the traditional lion dance. The students are from Holmdel and nearby school districts and will demonstrate a synthesis of Chinese folk dances, perform the drum dance with drum ensemble and culminate in a 16-foot dragon parade with Chinese music. There will also be a demonstration of the Chinese yo-yo and Brookdale students participating in the events.
Why do animals represent Chinese birth years? The historical explanation is that in ancient China, most people were illiterate and could not memorize or calculate easily. The animals of the Chinese zodiac that influenced people's lives were an easier way to symbolize the 12 terrestrial branches of the calendar: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
Legend has it the gods summoned the animals and the zodiac reflects the order the twelve fastest animals arrived. Each animal has particular traits and individuals born in specific years share these characteristics, much as the Western horoscope signs share traits. Those born in the tiger years were compared to emperors known for tolerance, valor, bravery and respect. The symbol of power and lordliness, they can also be cruel, forceful and terrifying. There are many legends about hunting tigers dealing with struggles against evil might. Those born in tiger years enjoy a bright prospect following middle age with women born under the tiger sign said to be especially intelligent, faithful and virtuous.
Recent tiger birth years include 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, and 2010.
The Brookdale Student Life and Brookdale Asia Society join the Jersey Shore Chinese School in sponsoring the event. Refreshments will be provided. Parking is available in lot 1 with the Gateway walk leading to the Student Life Center.
For more information, call Professor Linda Wangat 732-224-2861.
