Celebrating the Year of the Dragon in Los Angeles: “We Just Want to Spread the Love”
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade is a celebration of culture and resilience.
In an ocean of red, 16-year-old Jayden Tang is having fun. He considers this joy an act of defiance in the face of recent incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian communities across the country.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year at the 125th Golden Dragon Parade on February 17, 2024, in Chinatown as part of the parade team, the San Gabriel resident is dressed as the Chinese god of wealth.
“I get to see people smile when I wave at them. It’s kind of bad visibility but seeing people happy is worth it,” Tang says.
To many, the event is about sharing their culture with other communities. Angeleno Andrew Sam, 28, has been a member of the parade team for almost eight years.
“We just want to spread the love,” he says. “The Chinese American community, we celebrate the fact that we’ve been here since the 1700s and we’re just as much as part of American history as every other community is.”
For Alhambra resident Elisa Lee, the parade team has become a second family. She is in her 40s and has been part of the team for 24 years. She says she’s seen a few generations come through over the years.
“I feel very proud to be Chinese. I am very proud of my culture. I am very proud of my people,” she says.
Across Chinatown, businesses that want some extra good luck pin red envelopes to the door. The dancing lions take the red envelope and bless the establishments in return.
