I'm back from a short trip to Butte, where I celebrated Chinese New Year's with a friend. During its mining heyday, "Butte, America," was a melting pot of cultures; along with large Irish and other ethnic groups were several thousand Chinese. That history is now kept alive by the Mai Wah Society, which runs a museum and hosts the parade.
Brenda and I first went to the Silver Bow County Courthouse for a wonderful performance by dancers from the Hope Chinese School in California. Then we went outside and marched in what is billed as the "shortest, loudest and often the coldest Chinese New Year's parade in the world."
Although it had been (relatively) warm and dry before we went in the courthouse, by the time we came out it was snowing. The flakes grew fatter and heavier during the parade, then stopped a little while after it ended. I read in a newspaper article this morning that snow during the celebration is considered very good luck.
Here are my first attempts at shooting video. They're only a few seconds long:
Waiting in the snow for the parade to start
Follow the dragon
Making noise in downtown Butte
Fireworks finale at the Mai Wah
12 Comments:
Just curious - why did you get just your left ear pierced?
to the anonymous poster: 'cause left looks cool!
Patia, that Chinese New Years celebration sounds most excellent!
Anon: Because I'm a pinko lesbian witch who wants to send secret signals to others of my type. Is that what you were hoping to hear?
Actually, it's probably because I sleep mostly on my right side. Also, because I'm right-handed, I tend to wear my watch and much of my jewelry on my left side.
Birdie: You would have loved it.
Everyone: It's possible the Chinese dancers will come back next year and perform in a bigger venue, such as the Motherlode Theater. If they do, it's well worth a trip.
I didn't realize witches were allowed to hang with pinkos ... ;)
Nah, I'm just so fashion-challenged, I thought I'd missed something with the single-side earring. I've wanted to get another ear piercing, but I didn't want to look totally out of it by getting both/either/the wrong side pierced!
And, BTW, your new bling does look good!
LOL, you guys told them!
And Patia, it does sound like a very Montana good time!
Anon: Forgive my smartass reply, but I tend to assume anonymous posters are guilty until proven innocent. You might receive friendlier responses if you identified yourself in some fashion.
FWIW, the old earring rules about left=straight/right=gay or vice versa are completely irrelevant these days.
Meg: Thanks for stopping by.
Has anyone watched my videos yet??? [whine!]
Oh, crap, now I’m all embarrassed. Even though no one here knows me. I asked that question anonymously because I didn’t want anyone to think I was totally ignorant and I didn’t really want anyone to know that it was I (even though you don’t know me) who was asking what I KNEW might be viewed as a really stupid question, but I honest-to-god didn’t know the answer. So I asked. So. There you are. That’s the deal. And I really didn’t take any offense at your answer. Now I’m just going to stop talking… which is usually what I should do long before this …! :-}
Hmmm. Interesting punctuation in that last post ...
Heh, Susan, now you're making me laugh. How 'bout we start over:
Hi! Welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks! It's actually not my first time here. I popped in a few weeks ago after finding you in a search for decent Missoula blogs. I really enjoy the photography.
Thanks! I hope my paranoia doesn't scare you off!
Nope, just as long as you don't hold my rather graceless entrance here against me!
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