29/01/12: The Year of the Dragon
Parisians usher in the year of the Water Dragon, with traditional, ultra-colorful parades set to take the streets by storm in the Chinese parts of the city, or the Chinatown of Paris.
Leica Digilux 3
Leica D Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-3.5/14-50 mm ASPH.
ISO-100, F/5, 1/125sec, 14mm
Falling earlier than usual this year, and guaranteed to lend a splash of much-needed color and vigor to the still winter backdrop, Chinese New Year festivities are on their way in Paris.
Paris has a large and thriving French-Chinese community whose cultural influence grows stronger all the time.
Parisians of all stripes eagerly crowd the streets of South Paris each year to witness a cheerful procession of dancers and musicians, vibrantly-hued dragons and fish, and elegant flags embossed with Chinese characters.
In China, the New Year is the most important annual celebration. Unlike its Western counterpart, which always falls on the same day, Chinese New Year changes every year, following a special calendar.
Each year corresponds to a Chinese animal sign and is believed to take on the flavor and "character" of that animal.
Astrology is a major part of Chinese culture and is rarely regarded as mere cocktail party chatter as it often is in the West.
2012 is the year of the Dragon, China's most venerated mythical creature. The water Dragon is associated with the virtues of idealism, energy and determination, and foibles including narcissistic tendencies, hotheadedness and stubbornness.
In 2012, Chinese New Year falls earlier than in most years, beginning on Monday, January 23rd and culminating on Sunday, January 29th.
The first major parade is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 pm and starts at or around 44, avenue d'Ivry in the 13th arrondissement (underground station Tolbiac).
Chinese New Year parades in Paris are famed for their elaborate decorations (red lanterns, grinning dragons and tigers, bright orange fish) and for their noisy cheer, which usually includes firecrackers.
Just what is Chinese New Year? There's actually a lot more to it than lion dances and firecrackers, although these two pieces of tradition are integral and more visible, Chinese New Year to China is like Christmas to the West.
In essence, Chinese New Year is spending time with family, gift giving and, the all important, food-fest.
Arrival of the officials, the representants of Chinatown, the mayor of the 13th arrondissement, the Interior Minister Claude Guéant, also François Holland leader of the socialist party and candidat for the presidence 2012 of France.
The hand-shaking between the representant of the Chineses in Paris and the embassador of the People's Republic of China.
Leica Digilux 3
Leica D Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-3.5/14-50 mm ASPH.
ISO-100, F/5, 1/125sec, 14mm
Falling earlier than usual this year, and guaranteed to lend a splash of much-needed color and vigor to the still winter backdrop, Chinese New Year festivities are on their way in Paris.
Paris has a large and thriving French-Chinese community whose cultural influence grows stronger all the time.
Parisians of all stripes eagerly crowd the streets of South Paris each year to witness a cheerful procession of dancers and musicians, vibrantly-hued dragons and fish, and elegant flags embossed with Chinese characters.
In China, the New Year is the most important annual celebration. Unlike its Western counterpart, which always falls on the same day, Chinese New Year changes every year, following a special calendar.
Each year corresponds to a Chinese animal sign and is believed to take on the flavor and "character" of that animal.
Astrology is a major part of Chinese culture and is rarely regarded as mere cocktail party chatter as it often is in the West.
2012 is the year of the Dragon, China's most venerated mythical creature. The water Dragon is associated with the virtues of idealism, energy and determination, and foibles including narcissistic tendencies, hotheadedness and stubbornness.
In 2012, Chinese New Year falls earlier than in most years, beginning on Monday, January 23rd and culminating on Sunday, January 29th.
The first major parade is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 pm and starts at or around 44, avenue d'Ivry in the 13th arrondissement (underground station Tolbiac).
Chinese New Year parades in Paris are famed for their elaborate decorations (red lanterns, grinning dragons and tigers, bright orange fish) and for their noisy cheer, which usually includes firecrackers.
Just what is Chinese New Year? There's actually a lot more to it than lion dances and firecrackers, although these two pieces of tradition are integral and more visible, Chinese New Year to China is like Christmas to the West.
In essence, Chinese New Year is spending time with family, gift giving and, the all important, food-fest.
Arrival of the officials, the representants of Chinatown, the mayor of the 13th arrondissement, the Interior Minister Claude Guéant, also François Holland leader of the socialist party and candidat for the presidence 2012 of France.
The hand-shaking between the representant of the Chineses in Paris and the embassador of the People's Republic of China.
