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Families Celebrate Chinese Children; S. Shore Parents Group Ushers in Year of Rooster; Getting Involved

Posted on: Wednesday, 2 February 2005, 15:00 CST

For The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE - The girls - 10 in all - began the dance together. They held wands that they cracked open like fireworks on cue, unfurling cloths of teal, orange, pink and red.

So began the Ribbon Dance, one of the cultural events at yesterday's Chinese New Year celebration sponsored by the South Shore chapter of Families with Children from China.

The dance troupe, called Xin Chuan, which means Heritage, kicked off the event with the traditional Flower Drum Dance and the Ribbon Dance, choreographed and coached by Chaio Bin Huang. Girls ranging in age from 6 to 12 performed in matching red costumes as their families watched.

About 90 families got together for a variety of festivities to usher in the Year of the Rooster.

"It is about developing cultural awareness of American parents who have adopted Chinese children," said Stacie Madden, a member of the group's board.

The organization has play groups and holds educational and cultural events, the largest of which is the New Year's celebration. Yesterday's activities, at Emerald Hall in Braintree, included a buffet, arts and crafts for the kids and entertainment. Mulan Art Troupe, a professional dance group, performed acrobatics, plate spinning, a magic show and other traditional Chinese dances. "It is great for these kids to see the Mulan Art Troupe, to see older women involved in their culture," chapter Chairwoman Judy Collins said. "Cultural identity is very important, especially when the faces you see don't reflect your own."

Collins started the South Shore chapter in 1998 after seeing the need firsthand.

"The FCC of New England had 1,000 families, and no one was from (the South Shore)," she said. "I knew we had local families, and now people can find others near them and connect." Starting with 25 families, South Shore Families with Children from China has grown to 143 families from Quincy, Scituate, Hingham, Duxbury, Weymouth, Taunton and Marshfield. Mary DeCain recently became a member when she adopted 2-year-old Maya in August.

"This is my first event and I love it," DeCain said. "It's the first time we have been around a large group of Chinese since we came back."

The hall was decorated in red in recognition of a Chinese proverb. From Debbie Blackington's book on adoption, "Mama's Wish - Daughter's Wish," the proverb states "there is an invisible red thread that connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it may never break.""The proverb shows that we are connected before we adopt our kids," Collins said. "They are predestined to be in our family."

The South Shore Chapter of Families with Children from China can be reached at FCCsouthshore@yahoo.com, or call Judy Collins at 781- 740-2997. On the web: www.fwcc.org

Source: Patriot Ledger, The; Quincy, Mass.

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