Today is the Lunar New Year, also known in China as the Spring Festival, and as Chinese New Year to the rest of the world.
According to the web site ChineseNewYear2012.net, the Chinese celebrate their new year as a time to “welcome longevity, wealth and prosperity and to eliminate any negative chi from the past.”
The year 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. This year’s celebrations will be particularly dramatic since the Dragon is the most powerful and auspicious of all the 12 Chinese Zodiac animal signs.
“The Dragon represents excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity, and people respond to the spirit of the Dragon with a year of energy, vitality and unbridled enthusiasm.”
Outside of the Asian cities of Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore as the obvious top places in the world to attend a Chinese New Year celebration, there are 3 other spots that offer as much fun, excitement, color and pageantry, with the added bonus of having convenient and budget-friendly timeshare rentals available.
1. San Francisco. Here you’ll find the largest Chinese New Year festivities outside Asia, including one of the top 10 parades in the world, and also one of the few remaining illuminated nighttime parades in the country.
Carrying on a tradition that began shortly after the California Gold Rush, when many Chinese immigrants settled in San Francisco, the parade, sponsored by Southwest Airlines, will have over 100 units – Gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers , and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court.
A crowd favorite is the spectacular 250′ Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group, White Crane, to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.
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2. London. The London parade, festival in Trafalgar Square, and Chinatown celebrations, traditionally take place on the first Sunday following the New Year – in this case, January 29th, with more events taking place throughout London well into February.
Festivities begin in the morning with a parade of colorful floats, and, of course, the Dragon. At noon Chinatown’s president officially opens the Dotting of the Eye ceremony, kickstarting an afternoon of performances featuring music, dance, Chinese dragons, lions and acrobatics. The show culminates in a fireworks display after dark. Chinatown will be filled with cultural and food stalls and displays all day.
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3. Disneyland. The iconic Disney playground in Anaheim, CA, offers a fun version of the Chinese New Year celebration. Called “The Happy Lunar New Year Celebration!” it pays tribute to the traditions and family celebrations observed within the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, observing “the time when the sun and moon begin their journeys for another year.”
In addition to enjoying performances by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese musicians and dancers, Disneyland park guests will be able to visit with Mulan, Mushu and other Disney characters.
Disneyland celebrates the Lunar New Year January 20-29, 2012.
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Photo Credit: http://www.travelbite.co.uk