Chinese New Year Celebration in San Francisco

Chinese New Year is considered to be the principal traditional celebration of the Chinese. The festival is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. During this time, the people of the Chinese community appease the Kitchen God, as it is

believed he reports about the different households to Emperor Jade. This festival also marks the celebration of everyone’s birthday.

Lunar New Year Celebration in San Francisco is marked by shopping, decorating homes, eating out, family reunion and many more. One of the most interesting facts of the festival is the steamboat dinner organized for family reunion.

Custom of Chinese New Year in San Francisco

All the streets of the city remains blocked during the festival. The streets are beautifully decorated with lanterns and floats. The color red which is considered to be the luckiest color dominates the Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco. The homes are usually decorated with oranges, Tangerines and pomelos.

One of the most important customs of Spring Festival is giving away red envelopes. The San Francisco Chinese community also follows this similar custom. Red envelopes are given away as a symbol of fortune, luck and good health to the youngsters by the elderly.

Events of the Chinese New Year Celebration in San Francisco

One of the major events of is the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade. Dating back to the Gold Rush days of the 1860s, this annual event is not only the oldest but also the largest occasion of its kind throughout the world. San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is held two weeks after the first day of the New Year of the Chinese calendar. The parade route starts from Market Street and ends at the Chinatown.

Another major event of Lunar New Year festival is the flower fair which is held in heart of Chinatown of the city. The flower fair is held for two days and adds a festive fervor in the atmosphere. The fair is an ideal place for buying Chinese New Year flowers. In addition, the community also takes part in Chinese traditional dance, street fair of the Chinatown community, basketball jamboree, art and various other cultural events.

The Community Street Fair is also an important event of the grand event. Held for two days, the fair makes a fine display of puppet shows, magic shows, kite making, lantern making among other things. The lively fair draws a large number of tourists.

However, the most awaited event hosted by the fair is the Miss Chinatown USA Crown. This pageant show mainly attracts young women and is meant to promote the rich Chinese heritage and culture. Dragon and lion dance parades and fireworks are common part of the festival. These parades are one of the most colorful events of Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco.

Latest Updated on 14/12/2010

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