The Chinese New Year is perhaps the most important of all traditional holidays celebrated in China. In its homeland, it is commonly known as the “Spring Festival.” This annual bash marks the official end of the winter season. Because the Chinese New Year is lunisolar, it is often referred to as the “Lunar Year” as well. It goes on for, on most occasions, fifteen days. It has been celebrated for as many as 5,000 years.
This year, the celebration began on January 23rd, 2012 and has been marked as the official Year of the Dragon.
Millions of Chinese have traveled back to their family homes to commemorate the New Year holiday. Although, an official survey indicates most are reluctant to go home. Part of the foreboding is the journey itself. Transportation authorities expect that more than three billion trips will be made.
The United States’ Capitol of Washington D.C. has been holding festivities in honor of the Chinese New Year for the past half century or so with a persistent parade in its “Chinatown.” Included in the big event was a dragon dance, a lion dance, kung fu performances and undoubtedly the lighting of a giant firecracker which came to no surprise.
The San Francisco Chinese New Year celebration is the largest American-Asian event, as well as the largest general market event, held in the United States. It has been named one of the world’s top ten parades, and is the most extravagant ceremony of its kind to be held outside of Asia. Some of the parades highlights include elaborately decorated floats, marching bands, martial arts performers, Chinese acrobatics, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA and the infamous Golden Dragon. The Golden Dragon is the most anticipated part of the parade and requires a team of 100 people to carry. The dragon itself is made on a skeleton of bamboo and rattan in 29 segments. The San Francisco Annual Chinese New Year Parade is set to be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Rain or shine, it will go on.