The huge Asian community in Paris (Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians etc.) celebrate Chinese New Year around January or February each year on a big scale with several street processions. The biggest one starts from 44 avenue d'Ivry near the Tang Frères supermarket in the Chinatown of the 13th district of Paris.
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Although Chinese New Year fell on 29 January 2025, the much-awaited procession was held 11 days later, on 9th February 2025. As 2025 is the Year of the Snake, the snake took a big part in the procession, despite the glamorized dragons and lions, which are an integral part of every such procession each year. (Photo: pgoh13)
Previous years' processions
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The Chinese New Year procession in the Chinatown of Paris on February 14, 2016 was unusually calm as the ear-splitting firecrackers hanging from trees or poles (meant to drive out evil spirits) were prohibited due to the state of emergency in France after the carnage in Paris by nine suicide bombers from ISIS on 13 November 2015. In fact it was a cordon of policemen that headed the procession |
When it was the Year of the Dragon, the Chinese New Year procession of the 3rd district of Paris had a 30 metre long dragon at the head of its procession (photo above). |
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The next day it was the turn of the 13th district to stage their gigantic procession through the heart of Chinatown. Again the dragons and lions were the highlights of the afternoon though a big group of some 50 to 60 male and female African musicians and dancers stole the show with their magnificent dance and drum spectacle. The photo above (photo on left) shows part of the huge crowd and photo (on right) yet another of the many dragons that danced and wound their way through the streets of Chinatown.
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The bright, red colour sets the tone for an auspicious new year. |
Unmasked! Guess the poor chap in the centre must be almost suffocating. |
The firecrackers hanging from a tree... |
...end up in smoke and flames |
Towering lions waiting to get into action. |
Eye of the dragon - this is just the tip of the "iceberg"! |
When it was the Year of the Rat there were two giant "rats" at the head of the procession. Animals coming after the rat in the Chinese Zodiac are: Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, Pig. |
Chinese damsels in New Year attire throw confetti and shout "Happy New Year" to the crowd. Believe it or not, the Chinese New Year celebrations actually last for some 15 days in China! |
The procession winds its way through the crowd.
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Even the deity has a place in the procession.
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