Manhattan Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebration

I have always been a huge fan of Chinese (Lunar) New Year celebrations. When I was small, as in less than school-aged, I remember being terrified of the lions and the noise from the drums and cymbals, but now I just can’t get enough of it. I love how everyone is so excited and looking forward to what’s to come, either in terms of what trick the lion is going to attempt next or on a deeper level of hoping for good fortune in the year to come. This year I was grateful that I had the weekend off and was able to attend the largest lion dance celebration I have ever been to. It took place in Manhattan’s Chinatown about two weeks after the day of the actual Lunar New Year. Traditionally New Year celebrations do last two weeks, but I still thought it a bit odd that there wasn’t very much in terms of celebration the couple weeks prior.

Lunar New Year Lion Dance

On February 8, 2020 over twenty lion dance troops set out on a rampage across Chinatown. Each troop had between 3 and 9 lions performing choreographed dances or just playfully interacting with the crowd and fetching their red envelopes. Now, I know, rampage is a strong word. But believe me, it was essentially that. For about 7 hours, the streets of Chinatown were filled with the raucous melodies of drums and cymbals, various lions prancing about the streets and ducking in and out of shops and restaurants, and throngs of people literally filling the streets. Fire code is apparently just not a thing during times like this.

Chinese Breakfast In Manhattan Chinatown

Obviously we refused to pass up the opportunity to indulge in some Hong Kong style breakfast so we popped into current favorite — Mstar. A couple lions also made an entrance on their quest to retrieve red envelopes from as many establishments as possible.

After breakfast we set out to experience the show. I loved the buzzing atmosphere, filled with a tangible excitement. Everyone from little children up to great great grandparents had all taken the time to dress up, wear red, and come together to keep these traditions alive. Walking down one street toward another, the sounds of one troop would fade and give way to the rhythmic beats of drums and cymbals of another troop coming up the street. It was never ending, the lions were everywhere and anywhere, and it was wonderful. The streets swam in confetti, the ground came alive with tossed poppers, and the air was littered with rockets of confetti. It was magical. Definitely the largest scale lion dance event I’ve seen, and I highly recommend going!

Lunar New Year celebration tips:

• Check social media to know when to come lion hunting. A larger and more advertised Lunar New Year celebration was happening in Chinatown the following day, but I knew from the Facebook page of one of the lion dance troops that the event to attend was the one on Saturday, not the more heavily marketed New Year Parade on Sunday. I just searched social media for “Chinese new year lion dance.”
• Bring red envelopes. They symbolize good wishes and when fed to a lion are thought to bring good luck as well as support for the martial arts troop performing. It’s extra fun and gives you an excuse to interact with the lion!
• Follow the lions around as they parade into the various shops of Chinatown- this gives you a glimpse of the lion’s rituals. Each store has prepared a red envelope to feed the lions and the lions must bow three times before they are presented their prize. Outside of larger storefronts you may notice a head of lettuce hanging from the ceiling. Make sure you set up camp and see the lions here! They will usually do a few tricks and stunts outside this store, ending with a leap up to grab the lettuce before “chewing it up” and proceeding to spit chunks of lettuce back out at the crowd. It is considered very auspicious to get this lettuce spat/thrown on you so just go with it and enjoy the moment.
• This tip is specifically for the NYC Chinatown celebration pictured in this post- come earlier in the day. The event runs from 10am to 5pm, but you get a much closer and clearer view of the lions earlier in the day. Near mid-afternoon the crowd was so thick that people were using camera poles 20-30 feet high just to get a shot of the lions!
• Most importantly- have fun, enjoy the atmosphere, and get something yummy to eat while you’re in the area!

I hope you get a chance to witness a lion dance celebration! Happy New Year!