Showing posts with label Year of the Monkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Year of the Monkey. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Horologium


Postcard HK-398848 from Hong Kong features Horologium, a faint constellation in the southern sky with only one star, Alpha Horologii, an orange giant, brighter than apparent magnitude 4. The constellation was first described by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752 as l'Horloge à pendule & à secondes (clock with pendulum and seconds hand.) It is one of the 88 modern constellations.

The card came with one of the Year of the Monkey stamps issued by Hong Kong Post.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Dragon Dance


Postcard US-3372308 to Finland shows a Kung Fu team performing the dragon dance at Chinatown Plaza in Las Vegas on February 22, 2015. Dancers manipulate the poles positioned at regular intervals along the length of the flexible dragon body, mimicking the supposed movements of this mystic creature in a sinuous, undulating manner.

Similar to the lion dance and often performing together, the dragon dance can usually be seen during the Chinese New Year celebrations.  It was a highlight during the Year of the Monkey Spring Festival at Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road earlier today.

Dragon dance at Chinatown Plaza in Las Vegas on February 21, 2016