Year of the Rooster in Chinatown New York

Year of the Rooster in Chinatown New York on Feb. 9th and Feb. 13th.

Chinatown New York kicks off the Year of the Rooster on Feb. 9th with two Firecracker Ceremonies to ward off evil spirits.

12pm: Mott St. and Bayard St.
2pm: Market St. and East Broadway
11am-5pm, There will be stages at both intersections featuring all-day cultural performances by traditional and contemporary Asian-American singers and dancers. Lion, dragon and unicorn dance troupes will march through Chinatowns main streets, including Mott Street, the Bowery, East Broadway, Bayard Street, Elizabeth Street and Pell Street.

The 6th Annual Lunar New Year Parade is on Sun., Feb. 13th. from 1pm 5pm.
Elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances, musicians, magicians, acrobats in the parade begin at Mott St. and winds through nearly every street of Chinatown, then ending at Worth. After the parade, around 3pm, the outdoor cultural festival featuring performances by musicians, dancers and martial artists will take place on Bayard St.

Also known as Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is a two-week celebration that begins on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar -- a period that falls between late January and mid-February and ends on the full moon 15 days later.

During the last few days of the last moon, it's time to put your house in order, repay your debts and buy new clothes. Doors are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red papers whose texts seek good luck and praise nature. During the two-week Lunar New Year period itself, numerous traditions are observed, ranging from the preparation of several special foods to the giving of lucky money in red envelopes called lai see.

Chinatown New York City has over 200 restaurants, numerous Asian bakeries and tea houses, jewelry shops, arts and antique stores, an active nightlife and dozens of cultural attractions and landmarks. Located on the east side of Lower Manhattan, Chinatown New York City has been growing steadliy since the mid-1800's and is the largest in the United States. For more information, visit www.ExploreChinatown.com.