Flushing New Year Parade 2010

When you think of Chinese New Year you probably think of dumplings, fireworks and parades.

And in Flushing, home to New York’s largest Chinese and East Asian communities, you might also think of beauty queens.

[Jessica Ciu, Miss Chinese New Year]:
“I want everybody to get more happy, and get more healthy.”

The new year is also about tradition and diversity. It’s not just Chinese that celebrate the lunar new year, but also Korean and other Asian ethnic groups.

The year of the tiger officially started February 14. This zodiac sign is usually associated with bravery—and Chinese people traditionally held the sign to be capable of staving off what they considered the three main household disasters: fire, thieves and ghosts.

But some characters on the street in Flushing were not part of traditional Chinese culture. One of them, “the God of Money,” or “Cai Shen” was wishing people prosperity for the New Year.

[John Yu, “The God of Money”]:
“Today the character is God of Fortune and hope will give all the people have luck.”

Flushing resident Mike Connolly comes to the parade every year. He says the lunar New Year is an important time for Chinese people.

[Mike Connolly, Flushing Resident]:
“Well I think it’s you know, a new beginning. Everybody looks at is as significant and that they—prosperous, they’re going to be prosperous over the New Year.”

NTD News, Flushing, New York.