Chinese New Year Celebration in New York 2012

Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries across the globe. New York has many Chinese people living here. As such, Chinese New Year celebration in New York 2012 will take place with grandeur.

Parades are common and in many places across New York, you will see dragon dancers, lion dancers, local and international artists performing on the streets. In 2012 Chinese New Year is on January 23rd. Fireworks, parades, and cultural programs take place in areas like Chinatown, Columbus Park, China Institute, and Mulberry Street.

Many prefer to start their New Year celebrations with a Walking tour visiting areas where celebrations are galore.

A Chinese New Year event that is scheduled to take place will include acrobatic shows, traditional drink, and food. Admission to this event is free and will take place in Chinatown. The event is basically a parade that passes through Bayard Street, Mott, East Broadway, and Canal.

If you want the best view of the festivities that take place during the parade, try to be at Allen Street between Grand and Canal from where you will get the best view.

More than 5,000 participants are expected to perform at the event. Tourists from different parts of United States travel all the way to Chinatown to enjoy this traditional parade during Lunar New Year.

In China Institute every year dumpling making classes are held. You will be taught how to make masks for dragon dance and lion dances. Workshops are held throughout the Chinese New Year month. If you are interested in these workshops, you can wait for the venues and dates of the programs to be announced. The dates and the venues of the events are usually announced 2/3 weeks prior to the celebrations.

You can also check out the other areas where Chinese New Year celebration in New York 2012 will take place. Few such places are Staten Island, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.
 

Spring Festival/Chinese New Year Traditions – Part of Festivities

No matter what festivities are held on the streets of New York, but the actual celebrations start at home amongst family members.

On January 23rd 2012, family members will wish each other, children of the household bow before elders to get blessings. As far as decorating homes are concerned, it starts few days before New Year. Red is the predominant color for all decorations related to Chinese New Year.

People pay homage to their ancestors and arrange prayer services at home. They prepare traditional New Year dishes and place them in bowls on the altar. Incense sticks are lit and placed on the altar.

These are traditional customs that are observed every year and are part of the festivities during Spring Festival. So, no matter how you take part in the Chinese New Year celebration in New York in 2012, the festivities are incomplete unless you follow the customs mentioned above.

Latest Updated on 13/01/2012