Island community celebrates Lunar New Year

Guests of various nationalities, public school children, and spectators from villages joined the island’s Chinese community in the observance of the Lunar New Year yesterday.

Highlighted by the traditional lion dance and fireworks display, the Chinese Association of Saipan wowed the crowd as its members performed the popular lion dance in selected establishments around Saipan.

The group kicked off the celebration at 9am by visiting places most frequented by Chinese nationals such as hotels, businesses, and restaurants.

Its first stop was the TSL Plaza where a large group of viewers gathered and waited for their arrival.

Association director Rose Chan-Matsuda was elated at the turnout, saying she never expected to see bigger crowds in their early morning show.

She believes that “everyone is embracing our celebration as their own.”

Through the lion dance, the association hopes to bring good luck and better economy to the CNMI.

In the Chinese culture, the symbolic performance drives away bad spirits and brings fortune to everyone.

At 10am, Matsuda’s group was seen at Saipan Grand Hotel “bringing fortune” to its guests and employees.

At Hyatt Regency Saipan, students from Garapan Elementary School were seen enjoying the Chinese demonstration.

According to GES third grade teacher Pamela Thorpe, nearly 40 students from third and fifth grade were present to witness the event.

The teacher said she brings her students to the performances when the occasion falls on school days.

“We’re studying China for three days now…and to better understand the uniqueness of this culture, we bring them here and [allow them to] witness for themselves the show, which is an important part of the Chinese New Year celebration,” the teacher told Saipan Tribune.

The CNMI is home to a significant number of Chinese nationals: students, workers, and investors.

Thorpe said, “There are so many Chinese people on our island…and we want our kids to understand who they are.”

Eight-year-old Michelle Galang said she enjoyed watching the lion dance for the first time. “It’s fun…and very colorful. I enjoyed it,” she said.

For her part, third grade student Rudy Dela Cruz was amazed at the fireworks display at the Hyatt Regency’s lobby.

The “lion” also performed yesterday in the following venues: Palms Resort Saipan, Subway Gualo Rai and Transpac Business Center, Fiesta Resort & Spa, and Duty Free Shoppers Galleria.

Today, the group is scheduled to fly to Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.

The lion dance performances capped a celebration that actually began the day before, when the Chinese community met the new lunar year with an extravagant fireworks display at the Paseo de Marianas. The display lasted some 30 minutes and drew a large crowd of late night tourists who were lured to the deafening display.