Ned likes bring things home with him from his morning walk. This time, he brought home a 6 foot tall paper mache, white horse. He had to hire a bicycle rickshaw to cart it home on top of the carriage while he rode along side them on his bike. I awoke and went downstairs to find the giant, white horse in our living room!
It is made out of cardboard, wire newspaper, and white tissue paper. It has a beautifully paper-feathered mane and tail, and a decorative red paper saddle. On it's front, left leg is a small person, with a mask-like Chinese face and a green body. The horse is magnificent and powerful in our living room.
Later, Ned's Chinese tutor, Leslie, came over and he told us that the white paper mache horse is for funerals. The white horse carries the spirit safely to the next world, and the small person on the front leg is a child who protects the spirit on its journey. At the funeral the paper horse is burned. We were startled to learn this, but not the least bit embarrassed. I joked to Leslie, that I hope it doesn't bring us death, just good luck.
The Chinese are superstitious about good and bad luck.
We welcome the white horse into our home, and I hope it safely brings friends and cultural connections to our doorstep.
I will post a picture of our horse soon!
It is made out of cardboard, wire newspaper, and white tissue paper. It has a beautifully paper-feathered mane and tail, and a decorative red paper saddle. On it's front, left leg is a small person, with a mask-like Chinese face and a green body. The horse is magnificent and powerful in our living room.
Later, Ned's Chinese tutor, Leslie, came over and he told us that the white paper mache horse is for funerals. The white horse carries the spirit safely to the next world, and the small person on the front leg is a child who protects the spirit on its journey. At the funeral the paper horse is burned. We were startled to learn this, but not the least bit embarrassed. I joked to Leslie, that I hope it doesn't bring us death, just good luck.
The Chinese are superstitious about good and bad luck.
We welcome the white horse into our home, and I hope it safely brings friends and cultural connections to our doorstep.
I will post a picture of our horse soon!
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