How To Throw a New Year Party
The Chinese really know how to throw a party. They proved this through their preparations for and their presentation of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Certainly, as part of the run-up to the opening of this event, critics pointed out the Beijing government's history of deny what many consider basic human rights to many citizens. Likewise, the captious detractors pointed out that some of the fireworks the world-viewing audience saw during the opening ceremonies were actually the work of some very good computer graphics. However, if one were to step back and look at the administration of the 2008 Olympics, including its opening and closing ceremonies, in relation to similar events from recent history, one could only come to one conclusion: The Chinese people really know how to party.
Still need some convincing? In that case, I might ask, "What does it take to throw a good party?" While answers may differ, the following list (in no particular order of importance) of requirements to create a quality "bash" leap to mind: a band, costumes, fun activities, dancing, and a surprise. With these five requisites in order, how could one not come up with a quality celebration? As proof, I will show how a recent event--a Kunming-wide, elementary school, New Year event--used the power of these five conditions to create an exciting party.
A Band:
Lord knows I am a sucker for a good band . . . marching band, that is. Having enjoyed the pomp and circumstance, as well as the athleticism, of performing in a marching band during my junior high and senior high days in school, I have always enjoyed (and, yes, become a bit rapturous) the emotional range a good marching band brings to an event--halftime of a game, a parade. The Chinese do not disappoint. The group below not only provided a solid, if not mechanical, drumline, they also blew the doors off the gymnasium with high and middle brass, and woodwind instruments. Okay, the United States Marine Corps Marching Band they were not, but these grade-schoolers made up for a certain lack of playing ability by simply playing very loud. And what better way to start a party than with a loud band?
Costumes:
Some people may not get into the whole loud band thing, but few people can claim they do not like a good costume party (unless of course you are wearing that silly Robin costume from the 1970s television version of "Batman"). Let's face it, in the run up to a quality costume party, fifty percent of the fun lies in trying to come up with that truly unique outfit. The Chinese? Check: The minority groups of Yunnan Province, of which there are over fifty, over several millenia, have created some of the most beautiful and unique bits of attire. However, what makes their "party outfits" so special are the numbers of people the get to wear the same thing and perform in unison. Imagine over one-hundred small children in minority clothing, carrying gold and silver tinsel rings, doing a traditional dance celebrating their country's diversity. The Chinese understand the power of a costume in relation to throwing a party.
Fun activities:
Now, the costume parties I used to attend would not have been complete if all we had done was parade around in out-of-the-ordinary clothing. With the addition of fun activities, the party really comes to life. Granted, some activities really are meant for the outdoors, and many physical education teachers would not dream of allowing their students to rollerblade or scooter around on the gymnasium floor; however, what could possibly more fun that high-speed rolling? For those of you who are safety conscious, you will be pleased to know that before careening about the court, these boys and girls received a lesson on practical danger-avoidance techniques. He even provided these children with a knowledge of basic traffic signals. With this information, these young ones were sent off to enjoy their party. While some of you would not necessarily invite the police to one of your parties, few people could deny that the Chinese understand the importance of providing fun activities to help enhance the enjoyment of a celebration.
Dancing:
I must admit, having grown up Baptist, none of the parties I attended during my formative years included the practice of dancing. In fact, the first party I attended that included dancing was my twin brother's wedding, and that was not until I was thirty-three. However, for many people, part of the revelry of party lies in a good opportunity to "cut a rug." Once again, Chinese
festivities do not lose sight of this important event favorite. Granted, the often add some rather disturbing contortional movements to the activity. I am not certain when touching the back of one's head with one's toes constituted dancing, but nothing says "party" like pink outfits and tutus. If you can throw in the occasional splits, so much the better. These Chinese understand that. Dancing is partying, and a party without dancing is hardly a party at all.
A Surprise:
While many of us have attended parties with a band, costumes, and activities (including dancing), for many of us, the thing that made the event was that certain intangible: the surprise. Some people build these into their parties; however, some events gain their novelty out of sheer luck. In any case, could anyone deny how surprising it would be to have a dragon show up at the party. Well, China, the land of Li Xiao Long (Bruce Lee, whose name, xiao long, literally means 'little dragon') is full of dragons, and they always surprise party-goers. They dance about, roaring, and while this dragon did not do his dance to the random beat of firecrackers, these mythical creatures often drive a party into a frenzy with the help of packed gunpowder. Now that's a party!
So while some people may want to bash the Chinese for other reasons, one cannot deny that the Chinese understand how to throw a good party. The throw together generous helpings of live music, unique attire, rhythmic gyrations and other fun goings-on, with the occasional oddity to create incredibly memorable festivities--events that keep a person enthralled for well over two hours. And let's face it, how many of us have left parties after only twenty to thirty minutes because they were not engaging events? That simply is not liable to happen at a Chinese party . . . especially when one is a "guest of honor" and is seated in the front row. "Party on, Yuan!" "Party on, Gan!"
Still need some convincing? In that case, I might ask, "What does it take to throw a good party?" While answers may differ, the following list (in no particular order of importance) of requirements to create a quality "bash" leap to mind: a band, costumes, fun activities, dancing, and a surprise. With these five requisites in order, how could one not come up with a quality celebration? As proof, I will show how a recent event--a Kunming-wide, elementary school, New Year event--used the power of these five conditions to create an exciting party.
A Band:
Lord knows I am a sucker for a good band . . . marching band, that is. Having enjoyed the pomp and circumstance, as well as the athleticism, of performing in a marching band during my junior high and senior high days in school, I have always enjoyed (and, yes, become a bit rapturous) the emotional range a good marching band brings to an event--halftime of a game, a parade. The Chinese do not disappoint. The group below not only provided a solid, if not mechanical, drumline, they also blew the doors off the gymnasium with high and middle brass, and woodwind instruments. Okay, the United States Marine Corps Marching Band they were not, but these grade-schoolers made up for a certain lack of playing ability by simply playing very loud. And what better way to start a party than with a loud band?
Costumes:
Some people may not get into the whole loud band thing, but few people can claim they do not like a good costume party (unless of course you are wearing that silly Robin costume from the 1970s television version of "Batman"). Let's face it, in the run up to a quality costume party, fifty percent of the fun lies in trying to come up with that truly unique outfit. The Chinese? Check: The minority groups of Yunnan Province, of which there are over fifty, over several millenia, have created some of the most beautiful and unique bits of attire. However, what makes their "party outfits" so special are the numbers of people the get to wear the same thing and perform in unison. Imagine over one-hundred small children in minority clothing, carrying gold and silver tinsel rings, doing a traditional dance celebrating their country's diversity. The Chinese understand the power of a costume in relation to throwing a party.
Fun activities:
Now, the costume parties I used to attend would not have been complete if all we had done was parade around in out-of-the-ordinary clothing. With the addition of fun activities, the party really comes to life. Granted, some activities really are meant for the outdoors, and many physical education teachers would not dream of allowing their students to rollerblade or scooter around on the gymnasium floor; however, what could possibly more fun that high-speed rolling? For those of you who are safety conscious, you will be pleased to know that before careening about the court, these boys and girls received a lesson on practical danger-avoidance techniques. He even provided these children with a knowledge of basic traffic signals. With this information, these young ones were sent off to enjoy their party. While some of you would not necessarily invite the police to one of your parties, few people could deny that the Chinese understand the importance of providing fun activities to help enhance the enjoyment of a celebration.
Dancing:
I must admit, having grown up Baptist, none of the parties I attended during my formative years included the practice of dancing. In fact, the first party I attended that included dancing was my twin brother's wedding, and that was not until I was thirty-three. However, for many people, part of the revelry of party lies in a good opportunity to "cut a rug." Once again, Chinese
festivities do not lose sight of this important event favorite. Granted, the often add some rather disturbing contortional movements to the activity. I am not certain when touching the back of one's head with one's toes constituted dancing, but nothing says "party" like pink outfits and tutus. If you can throw in the occasional splits, so much the better. These Chinese understand that. Dancing is partying, and a party without dancing is hardly a party at all.
A Surprise:
While many of us have attended parties with a band, costumes, and activities (including dancing), for many of us, the thing that made the event was that certain intangible: the surprise. Some people build these into their parties; however, some events gain their novelty out of sheer luck. In any case, could anyone deny how surprising it would be to have a dragon show up at the party. Well, China, the land of Li Xiao Long (Bruce Lee, whose name, xiao long, literally means 'little dragon') is full of dragons, and they always surprise party-goers. They dance about, roaring, and while this dragon did not do his dance to the random beat of firecrackers, these mythical creatures often drive a party into a frenzy with the help of packed gunpowder. Now that's a party!
So while some people may want to bash the Chinese for other reasons, one cannot deny that the Chinese understand how to throw a good party. The throw together generous helpings of live music, unique attire, rhythmic gyrations and other fun goings-on, with the occasional oddity to create incredibly memorable festivities--events that keep a person enthralled for well over two hours. And let's face it, how many of us have left parties after only twenty to thirty minutes because they were not engaging events? That simply is not liable to happen at a Chinese party . . . especially when one is a "guest of honor" and is seated in the front row. "Party on, Yuan!" "Party on, Gan!"
posted by Roland at 7:29 AM
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