Chinese New Year

New York City’s Chinatown is the largest in the United States and the site of the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere; a visit here feels like being in the country itself. It is a must-see on the opening day of the Chinese New Year celebrations when performers dance in the street in colorful costumes followed by a parade of dragon floats. Traditionally, the New Year marks the beginning of the spring and the rebirth of the Earth. It is a time for family togetherness, and begins with the ‘sweeping of the grounds’ - a spring clean to sweep out the old and evil, which is followed by festivities and feasts. Chinatown has over 200 restaurants representing cuisine from all the regions of China, and at New Year the suspicious should eat a whole fish as, to the Chinese, this represents togetherness and abundance; also don’t chop up your noodles, as their length represents long life! Color is also important at New Year. The luckiest colors are red, orange, yellow, gold and pink. Black and white are unlucky. In 2009 the year of the Ox begins.