LUNAR NEW YEAR-MYANMAR/DRAGON PARADES Yangon celebrates Chinese New Year with dragon dance parade

Record ID: 451018

  • Title: LUNAR NEW YEAR-MYANMAR/DRAGON PARADES Yangon celebrates Chinese New Year with dragon dance parade
  • Date: 18th February 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Myanmar
  • Country: Myanmar
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2LED2L9NBXMOTQTBFMGVC86LM
  • Story Text: Myanmar residents of Chinese descent celebrated on the eve of Lunar New Year with dragon dance parades in Yangon's China town on Wednesday (February 18).
    The famous dragon dance weaved through the streets of China town in Myanmar's largest city and former capital, as a gesture to pay respect to Chinese temples in the area, and marked the eve of the Lunar New Year which falls on Thursday (February 19).
    In the Chinese calendar, each year is represented by one of the 12 animals from the Chinese zodiac.
    "This year is Golden Goat Year. According to Chinese tradition, we called it lunar year. Today we will pay respect to our gods with lion and dragon dances as we pray for our safety in return, according to our tradition," said U Kyaw Kyaw, the chairman of the Lion and Dragon dance group.
    "We can see many Chinese Lions dancing as well as many Burmese of Chinese descent. I feel like I am in China even though we are not. I'm very happy to see this," said Zhao Sheng Yao, a Burmese citizen of Chinese descent.
    The Lunar New Year is considered a major holiday for Chinese around the world and is a traditional celebration which includes praying to ancestors, cleaning houses, lighting firecrackers and giving money in red envelopes.
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