The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce sponsored the Bazaar at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza in Oakland at 9th and Webster Streets on February 1 and 2. Festivities included performances of traditional Chinese opera and music, Lion Dancing, food and martial arts demonstrations, a Chinese fashion show led by Miss Oakland Chinatown and a Prince and Princess contest. A lecture on the history and symbolism of New Year traditions was given at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, located in the Plaza. Ernest Chann, a docent of the Oakland Museum, related the significance of various customs.
New Year is the most important holiday in Chinese culture.
He explained that red and gold, colors prominent in paper decorations, stand for happiness and prosperity, while plum blossoms, daffodils and lilies represent vigor and rebirth. The Lion Dance, with its ornate costume, manipulated head and tail, by two people, accompanied by drums, cymbals and firecracker, is meant to scare away evil spirits and bring in good fortune. In a break with old custom, women as well as men participate in the dance, Chann added. The Chinese New Year is calculated by the lunar calendar, so its date is movable. Chann also conducted a tour of the year-old Cultural Center.