I started my Thursday morning at 5:45. I’m not usually one to set my alarm for anything before 7 on a day off, but this was a special occasion. Today marks the beginning of Chinese Lunar New Year, and I was invited to get up before the sun to come celebrate the Year of the Snake.
A Crimson Rebirth
The Year of the Snake symbolizes good luck and rebirth. It is a time of transformation, wisdom, and renewal. I was told to wear red, as in tradition it represents joy and good fortune. While my closet isn’t something you’d describe as colorful, I have some bright pieces that accent the earth tones. Stuffed under my bed (which doubles as extra storage in my apartment) was the perfect red fleece jacket. It fit snuggly over my other layers, but it checked the box and kept me warm as I set out to travel across the bridge, racing the sun to meet my friends.
Parking was easy, and so was finding the corner where everyone seemed to be congregating. I met Kyla on the corner of Luc Lac, a Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Portland. Alyse was right behind me and Rory was set to meet us there in a few minutes. Besides the lion dancers, percussion line, event coordinators, and film crew, we were among maybe 10 other spectators there to view the performance.
The snake invites us to move with patience and precision, embracing change naturally rather than forcing it. Just like a snake would, we are invited to shed our past skin and any bad energy along with it. We are reminded to let go of past cycles, attachments, and perspectives that limit growth, focusing on personal evolution and renewal instead. through alignment, patience, and wisdom, progress will come.
The Paganista
This isn’t a year to rush forward. It’s a year to move with intention, to honor both stillness and motion, to trust the shifts happening beneath the surface.
A Dream-Like Celebration
The four of us caught up while we waited for the celebration to get underway. I took in the neon colors of the lion costumes, the sequins and fur complementing the traditional design of the the suits. The percussion line started their drumming, and while there still wasn’t much action from the dancers, the melodic beat kickstarted the anticipation of the crowd. More people wearing red started filling in the empty spaces along the sidewalk and around the intersection, and a fair number of passersby on their way to work stopped, perplexed by what was happening.
A crew member lit the celebratory fireworks and the intersection, which was partially blocked from traffic, erupted into noise. The drums got louder, the cracking of the fireworks echoed off the surrounding buildings, and the lion dancers became restless, waiting for their cues. At some unseen command, the lions rushed towards the middle of the intersection, and everything felt chaotically dream-like. Two sets of crew members holding poles attached to beautiful gold dragons walk through the lion dancers, adding visual splendor of the event. Some of the dancers lifted their partner up over their heads, their lion bodies standing tall to blink and wiggle their ears before bounding back down to all fours. It was magnificently overstimulating.
The performance was over faster than I thought it would be, just after 7:45. Someone helping in the event walked through the crowd carrying a serving tray of Hennessy shots, and I, along with Kyla and Rory, grabbed one to cheers to the new year. The lion dancers got their fair share, and so did everyone else involved. Smiles and dollar bills were exchanged – it’s good luck to give the lions, as it chases away evil spirits.
It was nearly 8 a.m., and still very much a work day, and the large, slightly tipsy crowd was hindering the morning commute. I wondered how many people would be late to work that morning with the excuse that a micro-festival was happening just a few blocks from the waterfront. I, at the very least, hoped that everyone who got to witness the celebration before heading into the office was put in a good mood after seeing it.
Kyla, Rory, Alyse, and I – as well as much of the crowd – all hung around for a bit, not knowing how to continue our days after something so remarkable. We couldn’t shake the feeling that we had been apart of something magical. We were all a bit speechless, reeling from the whimsy that was over as soon as it started. It seemed like the only evidence of the celebration was the red confetti that littered the street and the ringing in our ears from the drums.
There’s really nothing like a shot of Hennessy to get you fired up before 8 a.m., but we all went on a hunt for coffee anyway. Three oat milk lattes later and we were saying bye to each other, the pixie dust wearing off as we went on to experience our Thursdays individually. I held onto the message of the Lunar New year and the Year of the Snake, challenging myself to incorporate them into my life and mindset.
Chinese Lunar New Year reminds us to soften into our life a little more. Ease into the edges and corners of yourself that require some attention and care, and keep moving forward. Think positively and know that everything is going to work out.
Lyra Wiley 
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