Chinatown's Lion Day Parade Ushers In The Chinese New Year
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation held its annual Lion Day Parade to help bring in the Chinese New Year.
It's the Year of the Dragon, one of the luckiest years in the Chinese Zodiac, meant to bring in prosperity.
"People look forward to the Year of the Dragon because they see good times ahead," says Albert, one of the Philadelphia Suns.
Dressed in bright yellow, the community group performed a dance at 10th and Race Streets that included papier-mâché lions, fire crackers and a gold-and-red dragon.
"The firecrackers are supposed to be the noisemakers that scare away the evil spirits and then we have the lions to chase them away and that's how we bring in the New Year."
"The costumes are incredible -- they're bright. I'm from Boston, I'm a transplant here, so I've never experienced anything like this," said Lisa Berman. She attended the parade with her husband before heading to the Auto Show.
Reporter: "What's your favorite thing about today?"
"Uh, probably the firecrackers," said young Frankie Joe.
The Chinese New Year celebration runs through February 9th.
