Shoppers and diners on Clement Street today were treated to a boisterous Chinese tradition designed to summon luck and fortune, the Lion Dance.
The troupe walked down the street, stopping perodically to bring their blessings to businesses along the way.
Their efforts are part of a fundraiser for Self-Help for the Elderly, a local non-profit whose mission is to promote the independence, dignity, and self-worth of seniors. Merchants who wanted to receive the lion dance in front of their business were asked to make a donation.
The troupe performed for businesses in the Sunset, Richmond and Chinatown Districts.
During the performance, the drummers and cymbal players keep the beat while the Lion rears its head and stomps its feet. Another man sets up firecrackers in the entrance to the business and sets them off towards the end of the performance.
Towards the end of the video you’ll notice a woman who is surprised to meet up with the Lion in the May Wah Market doorway as she tries to leave. The Lion won that one – she turned around and headed the other way.
Sarah B.
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