TWIN lion brothers, painted gold and red for luck, helped welcome in the Chinese Lunar New Year as part of a week of festivities in Dickson on Saturday. Inside the lions, members of Canberra's Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance troupe were making the seven-kilogram heads snap their mouths, wiggle ears and blink as part of the traditional dragon dance which brings luck for the year.
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David Wong, 30, started the group in 2007 to bring Chinese culture to Canberra.
During the dance the lion eats lettuce before spitting it back out.
''It's considered a blessing - if you get touched by lettuce it brings you a prosperous new year,'' Mr Wong said.
And if the crowd which lined Woolley Street watched closely, he said, they would see a difference in the twins.
''One has a softer look with a round lip. The other has a more aggressive look with an open mouth and sharp horn.''
As lead drummer Mr Wong has the job of keeping everyone in time. It's a tough ask while holding 11 kilograms above your head, so the group trains every Sunday.
''People are welcome and should try and touch the lion when I go by for good luck,'' he said.
But at $1000 per costume it should be done gently.
This year is the year of the snake and Mr Wong and his group planned to bring it in with a bang.
