Year of the Snake, version française

[Deleted]

I just spent a few minutes in Chinatown before the Chinese New Year events last weekend, but my camera seems to snap photos very quickly. Even though the year of the snake began the weekend before, the Chinese of Paris prefer to choose whatever they think will be a more, er, prosperous day for the crowds, because a big part of Chinese new year is prosperity.

I had gone to a movie in another part of the arrondissement in the morning, and when I got out, I walked to Chinatown. It is never very difficult to find, even if you don't know where it is.

The streets are decorated like for Christmas, except this is something else.



Lions abound, because the lion dance must be done in front of every shop and restaurant.



Meanwhile, the various groups were getting ready for the parade an hour later.



Still time to shop for all of the new year's specialities.





This is the first time I have seen so many garlands of firecrackers.

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The Tang Frères supermarket was the source of free balloons if you wanted to stand in line.

Tang Frères is the biggest Southeast Asian food operation in Europe, but it has always kept its very first (and principal) store which was put in an old warehouse inside a courtyard. It has other supermarkets in the Paris metropolitan area which look totally normal -- if you are from Indochina.

If I were the person who had invented balloons for children, I would be so proud.





The various groups prefer to say that they come from extremely precise regions.





 



The local church was happy to participate in the festivities.

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You can see from the firecracker fragments if the lions have already visited a shop.





More weapons of mass destruction!



I continue to love the fact that anybody can be Chinese today.





Every now and then, there is a huge racket and smoke.

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Pow! Bang! Pow!
It is deafening.



Some of the lions invade the buildings.

       







French Chinese lions are vegetarians and they love to catch salad when they jump.







I had enjoyed my 15 minutes in Chinatown. Time to leave...



And here is the little video that goes with it all.

[bixaorellana]

Hooray! What a red-letter day & you caught it for us. Fabulous pictures & everyone is obviously having a great time despite the cold. Of course my favorite, favorite things are those insanely wonderful goldfish. Did you get me one?

As I scrolled down, I thought how great the report was, but was dying to hear the fireworks. And hey ~~ you delivered! Not only can we hear them, that last shot of them fragmenting into your camera is killer. And shimmying lions, too!

[lagatta]

I adored that. Also the blonde, black and brown Chinese. There are also costumes from the former Indochinese colonies (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) on display.

[htmb]

Wonderful pictures and the video really added to the whole viewing experience!

[lugg]

I too love the multi national chinese and the riotous, in your face colours. The fireworks as always scare me, when there seems so little regard to health & safety. I love to see/ hear / smell fireworks but from a distance.

Thanks for posting K2

[nycgirl]

Glad you went again, even if it was brief. I didn't get around to going this year.

As always, I enjoy the lion dancers and the festive vibe.

[htmb]

I was born in the year of the dragon (a few years back), so I'm finding the transition from last years water dragon to this years snake to be a bit of an adjustment.

[tod2]

I've only just found your wonderful post Kerouac! I remember the fantastic photos you gave us last year and this year did not disappoint either. The video made it all come alive and like Bixa took note of how those fire crackers came shooting into your lens!
Maybe one day I will experience it for real.......sigh

[Deleted]

I am probably not the only person who wonders how the indigenous French get involved in these events when they don't have a drop of Asian blood. Well, I passed this little poster yesterday which gives the beginning of an explanation -- it proposes choir practice for non-Vietnamese to learn traditional Vietnamese songs, as well as lessons to play Vietnamese musical instruments... and dress in traditional Vietnamese costumes.