THE Ballarat Chinese Association celebrated the advent of Year of the Snake yesterday at Sovereign Hill.
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A small crowd from the Association gathered in the diggings to see a Lion dance performance, following a ceremony in the Joss House Temple.
A ritual to deliver good fortune and luck, the Malaysian Gold Lion was woken by beating drums, then danced and threw Chinese cabbage at the crowd as a symbol of scaring away evil spirits.
Wednesday was the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calender _ a day that is spent with family _ yesterdayChr(39)s celebrations in the Joss House Temple marked the second day.
Association member Peter Lo said the awakening of the Lion brings calmness and wisdom to people.
Vice president Shirley Doon said the Gold Lion was chosen for the relevance of the Chinese on the goldfields.
Sovereign Hill marketing and public relations executive, Simone Bellears, estimated more than 5000 Chinese will visit Sovereign Hill over the next week, as part of the Chinese New Year.
