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Year of the Pig
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Revellers march and shout to the crowd during the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown in New York. Photo: AP Photo

New York’s Chinatown welcomes Year of the Pig with drums, dragons and dancers

  • City has the highest population of residents of Chinese descent of any city outside Asia
  • The Year of the Pig started on February 5

Drums, dragons and dancers paraded through New York’s Chinatown on Sunday to usher in the Year of the Pig in the metropolis with the biggest population of Chinese descent of any city outside Asia.

Confetti and spectators a half-dozen or more deep at points lined the route of the Lunar New Year Parade in lower Manhattan.

Members of a dragon dance group carrying a dragon pause during the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown in New York. Photo: AP Photo

“The pig year is one of my favourite years, because it means lucky – everybody likes lucky – and, for me, a relationship or family” and a better life, Eva Zou said as she awaited the marchers. “Because I just moved here several months ago, so it’s a big challenge for me, but I feel so happy now.”

There is an animal associated with every year in the 12-year Chinese astrological cycle, and the Year of the Pig started February 5.

Revellers march during the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown in New York. Photo: AP Photo

Some marchers sported cheerful pink pig masks atop traditional Chinese garb of embroidered silk. Others played drums, banged gongs or held aloft big gold-and-red dragons on sticks, snaking the creatures along the route. Someone in a panda costume marched with a clutch of well-known children’s characters, including Winnie the Pooh, Cookie Monster and Snoopy.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, both Democrats, were among the politicians in the line-up, where Chinese music mixed with bagpipers and a police band played 76 Trombones, from the classic musical The Music Man.

The lunar year is centred on the cycles of the moon and begins in January or February. Last year was the Year of the Dog.

While some parade-goers were familiar with the Chinese zodiac, others said they were just there to enjoy the cultural spectacle or partake in a sense of auspicious beginning.

“We’re here to get good luck for the year,” said Luz Que, who came to the parade with her husband, Jonathan Rosa.

His hopes for the Year of the Pig?

“Wellness, well-being and happiness,” he said.

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