Maridon to mark arrival of Chinese New Year
The Maridon Museum will mark the Year of the Ox at its fifth Chinese New Year Celebration on Saturday at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township.
The evening will include food, entertainment, dancing and a basket raffle.
Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar, followed by hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m. The elegant sit-down dinner begins at 7 p.m.
The entertainment will feature an authentic Good Luck Lion Dance performed by the Steel Dragon Kung Fu and Lion Dance team.
The Steel Dragon school in Pittsburgh was initially founded as a lion dance team in 2003.
The lion dance is an integral part of not just Chinese culture, but of many Southeast Asian cultures, including Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese. In fact, the most famous teams are from Malaysia, according to the Steel Dragon Web site.
The dance is used in ceremonies ranging from the more formal and solemn to the more informal and joyous. Either way, the lion's purpose is to bring good fortune and to drive away any malevolent spirits.
The Chinese New Year celebration will be rounded out with music for listening and dancing as provided by the Buddy Lee Orchestra.
The country club will be decorated in a Chinese theme and elements of Chinese culture will be visible throughout the evening.
The emphasis of this year's celebration is a special memorial tribute to museum's founder, the late Mary Hulton Phillips. Individuals, businesses and organizations will present their special remembrances and recollections of her activities in the Butler community.
The black-tie optional event benefits the Maridon Museum. Tickets are $100 per person.
Call the museum for reservations or more information at 724-282-0123.
