By Ruth SOWBY

Chinese philosopher Confucius is attributed with saying, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Shoppers who attended the Americana’s Lunar New Year celebration had a simply fun time on Saturday, Feb. 8.  

Dozens of shoppers stopped their shopping long enough to watch the annual parade of lion and dragon dances. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes strength and protection while the dragon symbolizes power. This year, tote bags and lucky red envelopes were prize giveaways marking the Chinese Year of the Snake.

Chinese décor could be seen throughout the Americana. Most impressive was a giant Confucius statue surrounded by red balloons in the concierge lobby. Americana visitors snapped photo after photo to capture the colorful display. On Wednesday night, Feb. 12, the statue was carted away by six strong workers.