Words and photos by Helen Le Caplain
It’s not often you see a lion and a unicorn in Manchester kung-fuing their way around a lap dancing bar, a casino and dozens of packed-out Chinese restaurants.
But that’s what thousands of Chinatown revellers witnessed yesterday as the city welcomed the Year of the Horse in a riot of colour, noise, dancing and fireworks.
The traditional council-run dragon procession swaggered its way from Manchester Town Hall along the city centre route before arriving in the heart of Chinatown an hour later.
Once the dragon landed the lion and unicorn parade, funded by Manchester Chinese businesses, bowed down to the emperor and began its high-octane procession around many Chinatown businesses.
A team of musicians playing drums and symbols performed a rythmic routine which set the pace for the exhausting four-hour performance.
The 20-strong team took it in turns to perform on the instruments and perform the marshall arts classics as made famous in Bruce Lee films.
The lion and unicorn snaked through the crowds to perform and ‘bless’ each building on the route after an envelope offering was made.
The envelope was tied to a lettuce or cabbage which is ‘eaten’ by the animal – but woe betide anyone who stood too close to these magnificent creatues as they showered the audience with shredded lettuce while keeping the money for themselves.
Although the costumes are light-weight the performers emerged from the bamboo, paper and faux fur structures drenched in sweat from performing such energetic routines.
The mystical creatures made a pitstop at the makeshift buddhist temple before continuing on their way.
The lion and unicorn also danced around a cage of deafening firecrackers, much to the delight of the crowds.
One of the later pit-stops involved a spin on the dancefloor of lap-dancing club Long Legs.
The last leg of the parade saw the group descend on Charlie’s Karaoke Bar where the group had a well-earned rest and drink.
Video courtesy of Stephen Hutson, with thanks
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