JO POTTS, NORMA HUDSON, AND RHONDA PARKINSON
Anticipating the start of the Chinese New Year on February 3, Socialites gathered around tables decorated by Sue McCoy and her committee in Chinese red and gold and with fortune-telling scratch-off cards. The person holding the card with a gold sticker was the winner of her table’s celebrational red envelope containing an opportunity for cash. The delicious Asian buffet featured chicken and rice along with a salad, which contained traditional ingredients, like lettuce, red peppers, baby corn, Asian dressings, mandarin oranges, and wonton noodles.
Opening the short business meeting, President Donna Moffatt welcomed everyone and asked Cheryl Dawes to introduce new members. Rhonda Parkinson encouraged members to sign up to model Anthony’s fashions in the style show at the March meeting, and she announced Women’s Heart Health is the program in February. Bev Groft reported this month’s member contribution to the All Souls’ outreach program totaled $334.
Jo Potts opened the program’s Asian theme with a history of Mah Jongg. She told the group this popular game is thought by some to have philosophical roots with Confucius. More likely this game with tiles began in the 19th century among Asian poor who did not have the playing cards like the rich. There are many versions of this game in Asian countries and differences in the symbols on the tiles. The Americans have their own version of the game. It became so popular with Jewish women in New York, they formed a league to standardize the rules of the American game. Jo displayed her sets of Asian and American tiles to show their differences. She also mentioned there are Mah Jongg beginners’ classes offered in the Glen.
The Socialites were also fortunate to hear from Norma Hudson, who had experienced Chinese New Year’s celebrations in several Asian countries. She explained that the 3000-year-old Chinese New Year celebration is also called the Lunar New Year and a celebration of spring. She also explained each new year is named for one of the animals of their culture’s Zodiac. This year is The Year of the Horse.
Norma said it is the purpose of celebrations to usher in a time of health, unity, and prosperity and that celebrations are loud. Tradition calls for decorations in red and gold, firecrackers and drums. Lion and Dragon dancers perform their rituals to drive away evil spirits. It is also customary to give small gifts of money in decorated red envelopes.
Norma showed fascinating videos she had taken of Lion and Dragon dancers. Two highly skilled people wear the Lion costume, one to work the face with his hands, the other to jump onto stilts arranged in a row. The Dragon lies coiled until its handlers raise it and slither it among the onlookers. She also had film of a troupe of synchronized drummers who performed their version of a rhythmic dance cadence.
Norma, the sister-in-law of Rhonda Parkinson, has lived much of her adult life in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia where she served as an educator and superintendent of schools. Her son lives in Oklahoma City, and her daughter in Singapore. Norma currently resides in Fort Myers.
Socialites meet again at 11 a.m. in the ballroom, February 17.
