During the time of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, the traditional Southern Lion Dance and Dragon Dance performances are done to usher in the new year and bring prosperity and good luck.  The Southern Lion Dance was once performed by villagers and towns folk to ward off the evil spirits and bring a good harvest.  It was said that the ground on which the lion treads would be protected and blessed with prosperity for that lunar year, which is why the Lion Dance is performed whenever there is cause for celebration, such as grand openings, birthdays, celebratory events, various other celebrations on the Chinese calendar, as well as the above mentioned Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. 

The Lion Dance Performance is roughly broken into two pieces, the "awakening", or "deem jing ceremony" in Cantonese, and the "eating of greens", or "choi chang" in Cantonese.  The "awakening" ceremony is done to bring the lion to life, as it is a paper mache head with a cloth body.  The "awakening" ceremony is done by using a brush dipped in red pearl sand mixed with water and dotting the eyes, the ears, the mouth, the horn/forehead, and then spine of the lion.  This gives rise to the Cantonese name "deem jing" as it translates to "eye dotting".  With this done, the lion is awakened and picks itself from the ground.  Note, there is a difference between the Lion and the Dragon dance, in that the Lion is performed by two experienced martial artists, where as the Dragon is longer in appearance and is anywhere from 7 and up in number of performers. 

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