With lion dances and Chinese songs, children in Santa Maria celebrated the Year of the Rooster - Chinese New Year 2005 - Thursday evening at the Santa Maria Public Library.

Shiu-Ching McSparron of Nipomo charmed a group of about 30 children and their parents with her songs, dancing and artifacts from ancient Chinese culture. McSparron explained that Chinese New Year began Wednesday, but the celebration will continue for 15 days.

McSparron taught the kids about the practice of foot-binding, in which women's feet were wrapped tightly to keep them from growing, and explained that some people in modern-day China continue the tradition today.

Especially popular was the lion dance, in which the children danced like lions and then formed a line to become McSparron's lion tail.

She demonstrated a pair of child's pants with the back removed, explaining to the children's amusement that the opening was so the parents didn't have to change diapers. She also explained that children get money in red envelopes for the New Year celebration.

The program was one of the library's monthly events, and filled up within 24 hours, said Jeni Newell, children's librarian.

* Staff writer Erin Carlyle can be reached at 739-2218 or by e-mail at ecarlyle@pulitzer.net.

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Feb. 11, 2005