Chinese New Year In Los Angeles

Celebrations in Los Angeles for the start of a brand New Year not only can be witnessed on January 1 but also on the second new moon after the winter solstice.

The Gregorian calendar is based on earth’s orbit around the sun and hence the New Year falls on the first of January but Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and hence falls sometime from late January to early February.

Several events are organized each year to mark new beginnings. It is no different even during this year. The vibrant city of Los Angeles too like many other western cities has planned grand festivities to welcome the Year of the Pig in 2019.

Chinatown of Los Angeles will welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year by hosting the Midnight Temple Ceremony. For 2019, it will be held on January 28 during night from 10pm – 12midnight. People belonging to the Chinese community are expected to come in hordes to this holy temple to pray for prosperity, success, good health and peace through the Year of the Pig in 2019. Offerings to the deities are made as part of the celebrations for the New Year. Thousands of people gathering here also carry firecrackers to the temple with the belief that burning them would ward off evil spirits in the New Year.

Revelers can also delight themselves by witnessing performances of pnarticipants crowding Chinatown. Lion dancers, tai chi and Kung Fu demonstrators, musical entertainers and other artists also amuse the crowd with their shows. You can catch a glimpse of the Buddhist and Taoist monks, the heads of family associations, and many others who especially come down during this festival from the Southern California Chinese community just to celebrate the occasion. The festival is a day of immense joy and revelry for the Chinese community in Los Angeles.

People follow the traditions as associated with the festival beginning from the eve of Chinese New Year’s till a couple of days. Visit to the temple is a custom observed among the Los Angeles Chinese community people. Public celebrations and return visits to the temple for seeking the blessings of the divine follow for quite a few days even after the eve of the Chinese New Year.

Los Angeles residents interested to be a part of the feisty celebrations to welcome the Year of the Pig for 2019 can also attend 115th Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year Festival. Parade is said to commence at Hill and Ord Streets and conclude at Broadway and Cesar Chavez. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has more information regarding the events being planned as part of the parade to be taken out as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

While attending the events organized to welcome the Year of the Pig 2019, visitors can also experience the pulsating, colorful and unique treasures to be found in Chinatown through the “The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour”. It promises to be quite an exhilarating experience for visitors to discover historical richness, great heritage and culture of Los Angeles Chinatown during Chinese New Year.