Thousands of people went hog wild in the streets of Chinatown in
celebration of the Lunar New Year, firing off a barrage of
confetti, dancing in traditional lion costumes and devouring
countless dumplings.
Sunday marked the beginning of the Year of the Golden Pig.
There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, which runs in a
12-year cycle. People born in pig years are supposed to be lucky,
polite, honest, hardworking and loyal, according to Chinese
astrology. Their lives are also prosperous, encouraging many
Chinese to have babies in the coveted year.
Everywhere in the Chinatown neighborhood in downtown Manhattan,
people reveled in the festivities, watching the lion and dragon
dances. A nighttime fireworks show was scheduled.
The sounds of cymbals and heavy drums punctuated the air as did
the smells of delicious dishes from the many restaurants. So did
the noisemakers used to ward off evil spirits. At almost every
step, the staccato of snap, snap, snap rang out.
Julia Hoo, who lives in another neighborhood of Manhattan, said
she goes to Chinatown for every new year.
"I don't miss this," she said. "It's very important. It's my
heritage."
The performers were dressed in ornate costumes, and they popped
in and out of businesses, where shop owners gave them lucky money.
The Chinese, who are admittedly superstitious, think this symbolic
act is necessary to ensure a good year.
"I believe it," said Daphne Lau, who works in a Chinatown candy
shop.
Her store was selling plenty of new year kitsch, including
porcine statuettes and lucky trinkets filled with chocolate.
Mike Sans was eating pork dumplings at a savory little place on
a Chinatown side street. He is not Chinese, but he had an idea of
what the pig year is about.
"It's my understanding there are going to be a lot of babies
born in China," he said. "I think it has something to do with
prosperity."
But he admitted that the celebration was just another excuse to
visit Chinatown to enjoy its tasty food. "Absolutely. It's part of
the whole experience."
(China Daily via AP February 19, 2007)
