Chinese New Year Parade

The parade is relatively short but it was definitely worth the trip into Chinatown. Lots of cool dragons! I would recommend going at least once!

This is a political statement thinly veiled as a parade. There is a big stage built at the end of the parade route – but don’t get your hopes up – the stage is for the «honored» government officials to sit looking sternly. All of the performers dance right in front of the stage on the street, so the only people who can see are the stuffy people on stage and those immediately surrounding them. This leads to be believe that do simply do nt care about the thousands of people that visit; the entire parade is only for the officials.
There are no street vendors procured for this parade, aside from the random peddlers. None of the nearby restaurants have any food specials for the parade, there was no apparent effort on behalf of the parade organizers to make the a real celebration.

YUCKA what a total cluster flub. Yeah it is everything that Fenny stated but even more sloppy this year. I have been here a few times in years past and every year I hope that it gets better yet only to be disappointed once again. What is going oh here??? Why can’t they get this right??? So many people all jammed into a tiny tiny area and for what… only to see (if you can see anything at all due to the lack of sight) mainly politicians and their supporters parade about with «Reelection» signs. Then you have to put up with the mob mentality pushing shoving bad tempers flaring up everywhere. Where is the cultural appreciation, the history, the arts, the sampling of traditional music, dance and cuisines of a great culture? Oh that’s right I keep forgetting that I must go to Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg for all of that. At least they know how to do it up right. Do you hear that DC Chinatown New Year committee take notice and get it right. This was a disaster at least you actually had the fire crackers popping off this year unlike a couple of years ago when they called it off due to a supposed «gas leak» (yeah right we didn’t smell gas anywhere cept maybe when the local politicos spoke)! It could be so so much better with so much potential. Take notes from the other festivals either the Sakura in April or the Asian Festival in May. Make it like those and spread it out through the entire length of China block and beyond, not just crammed up towards the end of the street. 40,000 people is too many people to be pack in there like that, it’s really the making of a huge safety hazard. No need to hire some fancy over priced Ad agency to handle the promotions of this. Instead spend the money wisely put on a great street festival many will volunteer just a part of it if they can believe in it. The people will come and behind them will be the sponsors you seek. Baltimore little Italy street festival another good example learn from them. Right now this is a shoddy embarrassment. Year of the Dragon… more like the Dragon had slept through this and missed his own party. What a shame… a big let down for many. I know I was there in the mass of crowds hearing the many voices of disillusion.

While I’m not Chinese, I did note that this parade made the top 5 Chinese New Year parades in the nation — in the Nation! So forgive me for expecting more. Like maybe a cultural immersion experience if only for 2 hours on a Sunday. But when I feel like eating Irish food rather than Chinese food after the parade, it missed the mark. Maybe there are only 5 Chinese New Year parades in the nation. I enjoyed the effort of those who were participants in the parade, but its highly doubtful the parade did much to showcase this very monumental holiday for the people of China. And I certainly left without feeling like I even got a glimpse of the traditional annual fanfare. Bummer. I was ready to be awed. Instead, I was VERY underwhelmed.

OK. Yes, I hate on Chinatown a little (
), but that’s not why I’m hatin’ on the DC Chinese New Year Parade and Festival… it’s because, like DC Chinatown, the New Year Parade is an afterthought — and a slightly embarrassing one at that.
Chinese New Years is arguably the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. It’s like our Christmas and 4^th of July and Memorial Day and Labor Day and spring break all rolled into one. So you must understand why I’m completely dismayed at the sad «parade and festival» that officially lasts from 2 — 6, but is really 3 — 4.
Local high school bands (with nary an Asian member), and mascots dressed in Disney and Warner Bros costumes (not sure what they have to do with CNY) lead the parade. Followed by a handful of dragon and lion dance schools strutting their stuff (arguably the highlight of this event), and flatbed trucks highlighting various area Chinese associations. Any vendor that are there are the normal DC street vendors selling «Cucci» purses and «Prida» sunglasses. No vendors highlighting Chinese culture. No food stalls selling delicious pork buns. Nothing but a handful of Taiwan flags, flying weakly defiant against the Mainland China arch that marks DC Chinatown *.
And before you think I’m being bitter about nothing — let’s take a look at the annual Sakura Festival shall we? A packed weekend long event with vendors and food stalls highlighting the best of Japanese culture. There is a beer garden (sponsored by Sapporo… and yes, we Chinese have Tsing-​Tao!), a huge stall by Nippon Air and Japanese tourism bureau highlighting vacations to Japan (we have China Airlines), even an origami stall for the kids (we have lantern making, paper cut outs, fan making, Chinese calligraphy and watercolors).
Now look at the annual DC Chinese New Year Parade and «Festival» and do you understand the depths of my bitterness?
However, I suppose I should be grateful that we even still have the Chinese New Year celebration in DC — considering how DC Chinatown is actually a bunch of non-​Chinese stores with a Chinese sign out front (because *that* is what’s going to make Fado Irish Pub *SO* Chinese). Yet… yet I can’t help but hope for a day when DCers will be able to experience the amazing celebration that is Chinese New Years — with the food, fun, frivolity and joy that other cities all over the world celebrate!
***NOTE***
Those of you with a knowledge of international flags may notice that all the flags that are handed out at the Chinese New Year parade are Taiwan flags.
Why?
Because the huge looming Chinese gate was donated by the China embassy. Not to be outdone — the Taiwan embassy (unofficial, of course, as Taiwan is not recognized by the US officially) shows them up by handing out the Taiwan national flag during CNY.
Heh. It’s subtle… but if you’re in Taiwan, and watching the broadcast of the parade in DC (which they do every year) — and see the huge gate that is donated by China (and you can tell it’s a gift from China, because the Chinese words are simplified) — but the crowds are all waving Taiwan national flags… well…let’s just say there is a reason why the DC Taiwan embassy never gets their funding cut. Heh.