Chinese New Year more than just firecrackers in Paris

France 24

France 24 Photo

The Year of the Snake officially began on February 10 with special celebrations planned for over the next week across the world. But images of the slithery reptile were nowhere in sight in Paris’ Chinatown, where thousands of people braved the stinging cold and occasional snow flurries to mark the first day of the Chinese New Year.

On display instead where dancers dressed up as big-eyed and glittery lions performing in front of restaurants to offer the owners success over the coming year, spent firecrackers spread out on the floor like crimson blankets, piles of mandarins on small round plates and clouds of incense wafting through the air.

The celebration is a feast for the eyes for the passer-by, but for Jing Wang, an anthropology PhD student, who has been studying the Chinese New Year in Paris for four years, says important aspects of the celebration remain hidden to most French people, even when they are in plain sight.

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