February 10, 2024 marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year and the year of the dragon on the Chinese zodiac calendar. The Chinese zodiac cycles around 12 years, with different animals representing each calendar year. The Lunar New Year is celebrated by people of all Asian descent with the hopes of a new beginning full of luck and prosperity. The typical celebrations can last for a couple of weeks, often characterized by the lighting of firecrackers, large family gatherings, and the giving of red envelopes full of money in hopes of newfound wealth. In Philadelphia, the city shows its support for the large Asian population by hosting parades in Chinatown, exhibitions in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Penn Museum, activities at Rail Park, dumpling workshops, and more!
A couple of weekends ago (2/10/24), my family and I made the venture down to the city to experience the parade and food firsthand. With my dad immigrating from Taiwan and my mom being from California, my sister and I have grown up mainly experiencing American cultures. However, I’ve always been excited to explore the other half of our heritage, and the Lunar New Year allowed for the perfect opportunity for us to do so. When we first arrived in Chinatown before the parade, people were beginning to line the streets and explore the vendors around the area. As we waited for the commencement of the parade, the shop owners hung firecrackers and cabbages from street lamps and poles on the street. The hanging of the cabbage is yet another symbol of wealth for the new year.
The streets filled up quickly with not just the Asian population, but with people from all walks of life. For instance, standing next to us were people who had traveled from Germany. It was nice to know that Asians, Caucasians, African Americans, and all sorts of others had come down to Chinatown to celebrate this cultural event that holds significance for so many people.
Soon after, the parade itself started with the traditional dragon, lion dances, and drums moving through the streets of Chinatown. The dragon dance is depicted by an ornately decorated dragon following the mystical “Pearl of Wisdom” sphere, which is carried around on a pole. The lion dances include equally decorated lion costumes, and are done with the idea of bringing strength and prosperity while driving away evil spirits. Firecrackers snapped around the streets leaving smoke, and the drums echoed, creating an atmosphere unlike any other. The fire department was on standby if there were any issues. My family and I snacked on Asian pastries with red bean paste as we waited for the dragons to come around. Eventually, we got around to seeing the main event. The dances and parade were primarily run by the Philadelphia Suns, a nonprofit group that provides cultural connections to the Asian American community.
To continue the experience of the New Year, we went over to a nearby dim sum restaurant, Nom Wah. With a long wait time and hungry people, the serving of traditional dim sum dishes, pastries, and drinks with a warm ambiance was comforting and rewarding. When the waitress came at the end with the bill, she remarked how the restaurant was busier than usual because of the traffic from the New Year and left with a smile. Following the parade celebrations and a hearty meal, I felt a larger part of the Asian culture impacting me that I don’t always get to experience.
Within Radnor, there is a prominent Asian community with students from all backgrounds and experiences. The Asian Culture Club, for example, provides a place for anybody who wants to learn about the culture and a chance to experience it and try new foods. Having spaces like this is great for those living in Radnor to stay connected or learn about the traditions of Asian culture. Outside of school, many continue to carry on the ways of life associated with their heritage which can be through the shows they watch, the extracurricular activities they participate in, or perhaps even just speaking a different language at home. There are many opportunities to learn and embrace Asian culture around the Main Line such as joining culture centers, nonprofits like the Philadelphia Suns, and more!
