Dragons on a Stick

     The last time I saw the dragon and drum welcome committee serenading a new business in the neighborhood, the dragon was shaking its big head and snaking its way down a fairly quiet street.  Today I saw the same ritual on a little bigger scale.  There were two dragons this time, and I got to see both of them go aerial.  Here's the second guy shimmying up a bamboo pole.  The dragon costume he's toting probably weighs about as much as he does. The whole time the group was assembling and the dragons were getting ready and then making their ascent, a drummer was banging away, doing a snappy cadence on something that looked like a stout barrel on wheels.  

     No snaking down the sidewalk for these two festive creatures.  There's a subcommittee ready to push their red trolly down the street.

      As soon as the two dragons were perched on their poles and their costumes adjusted, the parade took off down one of the lanes of Belcher's Street, drum ratta-tat-tatting.  Traffic disruptions were minor until the group reached Queen's Road West a couple blocks away.  Then the traffic-directing subcommittee stopped three lanes of traffic while the parade crossed the street.  It must not have been too upsetting for the drivers who had to wait for them, because I didn't hear any honking--we've noticed that when Hong Kong drivers get the least bit upset about a delay, they lay on their horns.

     Here's part of the parade headed up Queen's Road against the traffic, taking up one of the lanes.  You can see the dragons using the spiky footrests at the top of their poles.  I didn't follow them any further to see which new business they were welcoming.  There was probably a second spectacle watching the dragons descend and do the shake and snake near the business.

     Watching all of this made me think again about how many deep-seated traditions and symbols are part of Hong Kong Chinese culture.