Celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year is a grand festivity in the east. Marking down the start of a busy and enjoyable event on the 23rd of January is also a great privilege to the westerners who are now moving around to make the celebration alive and colorful in the city of New York.
As New York City stands to have the seat of one of the biggest China towns in the US, it is not ironic to witness myriads of Chinese New Year activities that caters to families, adults and kids. With the various colors, calligraphies, lion masks, red ball lanterns, Chinese restaurants and souvenir shops swarming the grounds of New York, tourists and even residents do not bother walking around just to be part of the festivity. Music and dances are all over the place to make one feel the atmosphere of China in the west, needless to say the numerous populations of Chinese residents who definitely take part of the joyous celebration of welcoming another symbolic lunar year.
The Chinese New Year is also referred to by the Chinese as the Spring Festival since it is celebrated by the end of winter and start of spring. With the onset of a colorful season, the Americans are also on for a celebration. And with no hesitations, do it with the festivity of the Asian culture.
New York City will be in its busiest on the 23rd of January as the Chinese New Year kicks off. Activities such as the firecracker detonation at Roosevelt Park will be witnessed between 11am-3pm. The activity will be attended by local politicians and other leaders of the community to shove away evil spirits. Simultaneous with this event is the dragon dance that goes around China town’s main streets. Seeing this event is heart pounding as drums also roll along the streets of Mott Street, Bowery, East Broadway, Bayard Street, Elizabeth Street and Pell Street.
All throughout the days of celebration interesting activities show off and are scattered all over New York’s China town. Some of the song and dance performances are staged free in selected areas while some are exclusive for ticket holders. One Chinese program for the whole family will be shown on February 5 at China Institute in 125 East 65th Street with the cost of $40-70 member of one child and adult and; $50-80 for members.
Another interesting activity is the learning of the Chinese traditions and culture through a walking tour that starts off in MoCA Museum Lobby located at 215 Centre Street. Going around the places of China town is a fun way of learning the Chinese history. There will also be New Year sample treats for the participants. There will be a registration fee of $18-20 for each person. A discounted rate of $8 will be given to the museum members. The Walking Tour is scheduled on January 14-15, 21-22, & 28. Two sessions will be conducted each day. One is at 11am-12:30pm and 1pm-2:30pm.
There will also be fun-filled activities for the kids like Chinese paper cutting and calligraphy writing. A nonstop dragon dance around the area will also entertain the children as they put in their creativity in doing dough figurines as part of learning Chinese past times.
Celebrating Chinese New Year in New York is one way of getting to know the culture that is so diverse and apart from what the western countries have. Witnessing and joining the throw of colors and music while in New York is truly an experience that will always be remembered and treasured.