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Mountain Creek celebrates Chinese New Year

| 30 Jan 2017 | 04:05
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKI Giselle Ioannidis, on right, tells Eva Bonner, on left, how fabulous Chinese New Year is at Mountain Creek.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKI Giselle Ioannidis, on right, tells Eva Bonner, on left, how fabulous Chinese New Year is at Mountain Creek.
    Jordan, on left, gives a Chinese red envelope with raffle ticket to a young guest.
    Jordan, on left, gives a Chinese red envelope with raffle ticket to a young guest.
    The Chinese dancing lions ski down Sugar slope.
    The Chinese dancing lions ski down Sugar slope.
    Wendy and Jordan, front row from left, and Chinese dancing lions, back row, all celebrate Chinese New Year at Mountain Creek.
    Wendy and Jordan, front row from left, and Chinese dancing lions, back row, all celebrate Chinese New Year at Mountain Creek.

VERNON — “Happy New Year! Wooooohhhhh!” exclaimed happy, chilly guests, Jan. 28, during Chinese New Year at Mountain Creek.
Chinese music played as five Chinese dancing lions skied down Sugar slope in a line, to the “schuss, schuss” sound of snow. The lions — five Mountain Creek ski instructors — wore red coats and dancing lion heads.
In honor of “The Year of the Rooster,” Lou, the gorgeous black and white patterned rooster, calmly ate grain and drank his water, while guests posed with him for pictures. Lou was courtesy of “Urban Tarzan.”
MJ Entertainment DJs played rhythmic music on the slopes, to which guests spontaneously danced in the snow.
Dressed in a traditional Chinese maroon silk robe with ornate gold embroidery, Jordan explained, it was really amazing to celebrate Chinese New Year in America. Now that he is a U.S. Citizen — and America is all about immigrants — he said, they wanted to bring their culture, so people could see it. He added, “It's a really great opportunity for us.”
Jordan presented red envelopes with raffle tickets inside to guests around the Sugar slope. Guests won: lift and snow tubing tickets, triple play cards, and lucky money: eight two-dollar bills on a red and gold board.
Wendy explained, all $2 bills begin with the number 888. In Chinese tradition, 8 is a lucky number, reflecting infinity and meaning unlimited wealth.
On the slopes, parents taught their children to ski, snowboard, and not eat snow.
Henry Wan, of Chinese American TV, explained, the Chinese calendar is based on Asian Chinese dynasty times, when farmers used the lunar calendar for planting and harvesting. In terms of weather, Wan continued, the lunar calendar is very accurate.
Wendy said Chinese New Year is when all work stops; and they celebrate the harvest. People living in many states, she added, come home once a year for a really great family bonding time.
At Mountain Creek, Wendy said, they hope to do something even larger next year, in order for everyone to know about Chinese New Year.
Appalachian Hotel homeowner, Giselle Ioannidis, told Mountain Creek Brand Development Manager Eva Bonner, “This is fabulous! I am very pleased, very happy, and very grateful.” She said, she was especially pleased with the new Mountain Creek ownership.
Bonner explained later, Chinese New Year is important to the Chinese community, where everything closes down for two weeks. She added, “This is a big celebration for them.”