Chinese New Year Parade

Journalism I: Beginning Reporting

February 26, 2013

Stephanie Casey

415-328-7461

sacasey@dons.usfca.edu

PARADE-Casey. USF Student joins thousands in welcoming the Year of the Snake at San Francisco’s renowned Chinese New Year Parade. 790 words.

Blazing red dragons accompanied by a series of larger-than-life snakes and death-defying acrobats scaled the streets of downtown San Francisco last Saturday. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, tens of thousands of spectators joined the city in celebrating the Year of the Snake at one of the world’s largest Chinese New Year parades.

At 5:00 PM, spurts of firecrackers sounded the start of one of city’s most iconic events of the year. Audiences situated themselves in fold-up chairs that hid behind the metal railings lining the parade route. Shoppers could be seen peering down from storefront windows at the majestic spectacle appearing on the street below them. Several children bundled up in their warmest of jackets sat atop their father’s shoulders while others begged their mothers to buy them glow sticks and cotton candy from 19 year old street vendor, Eric Stone. “I’ve been working this spot since early December,” he said. “This is my first year at the parade and I’ve seen a lot of neat things so far. Especially the acrobats, those guys are incredible. I wish I could see more of it, but I’ve got toys to sell. Definitely a profitable crowd,” he said as he handed a gold beaded necklace to a smiling girl of maybe six or seven.

Kearny Street showcased an animated scene of jubilant dragons hiding troops of dancing children beneath yellow and red scales while Chinese pop music echoed between the towering buildings. Women fully adorned in traditional silk kimonos lit up the parade with bursts of deep blues, lilac purples, and searing reds as they twirled down the street. The parade also proved an excellent opportunity for some of the city’s biggest names to showcase their cars and family members. Supervisors Scott Weiner and David Campos waved to crowds from shiny red and blue mini coopers followed by Jeff Adachi in a vintage Cadillac and school board commissioner, Sandra Lee Fewer sitting atop a silver convertible. Bart even showed some New Year spirit as a miniature conductor car decorated in cherry blossoms and paper lanterns sauntered down the parade route.

After the sun disappeared below Kearny Street the moving displays began to shine brighter than the office windows stories above them. Bronze cymbals chimed harmoniously with the strong beat of the drum following close behind. The musical performers were dressed in simple black attire, so as not to distract from the much anticipated eminence of the glittering red and gold dragon nearing behind. A jumble of tiny dancers came to a halt before me and the percussion from the drums ahead silenced. They pulled out fans decorated as cherry blossoms and mimicked their dance instructor as they attempted what seemed to be forgotten choreography to a cheerful Chinese melody. The music cut short when “Gangnam Style” brought the dancers back to life. “No way!” shouted a girl behind me as she rocked onto the tips of her toes to see over my shoulder. The onlookers let out gusts of loud whistles and heavy applause as the children folded their fans and began to impersonate the dance made famous by South Korean pop singer PSY. The performers giggled as they hoped from side to side in single file lines of precision. The song ended, but the fan dancers left a lasting impression on Kearny Street as they marched out of sight to the sound of our applause.

Heavy drums operated by stoic looking men balancing on top of an ornate sparkling red and gold float signaled a herd of acrobats disguised as animals marching on stilts. A small boy knelt at the base of my feet as he reached his hands between the small spaces in the metal bars separating him from the festivities. A performer who recognized his struggle neared the metal barrier to offer him a smile and a friendly greeting to the crowd. The boy, mesmerized by her skill, peered up at her cheetah-painted faced and let his jaw drop. I decided to take advantage of this close range opportunity to learn more about the art from the stilt walker herself. 15 year old Rebecca Lee, alumni of the Chinese Performing Arts Program at West Portal Elementary School walked the parade route for her second time Saturday. “I’ve been learning to stilt walk since I was eight. We start when we’re in fourth grade and then each year we keep practicing,” she managed to say before rejoining her troop.

San Francisco’s Chinese New Year has yet to disappoint the thousands of people from all over the world who come to celebrate on the city’s streets. Saturday’s spectacle welcomed an exciting start to the much anticipated Year of the Snake.