More than 125,000 residents and tourists gathered Saturday in Los Angeles’ Chinatown to celebrate the 2013 Chinese New Year and see the annual dragon parade.
The Chinese New Year is the longest holiday in Chinese culture that starts from the first day of the lunar calendar and closes on the 15th of the first month, which is also known as the Lantern Festival.
Crowds came to enjoy the festival not only for performances such as the dragon parade, lion dances and acrobatics, but also for typical Chinese food.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck acted as grand marshals during the event.
Villaraigosa wished the crowds a Happy New Year in both Cantonese and Mandarin. “I got four months left, and I still love my job. Gung Hei Fat Choi. Xin Nian Kuai Le,” said Villaraigosa, according to Pasadena Star News.
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