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YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

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YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

Photo Seminar 2017

The Lunar Lunar New Year started on Saturday, January 28, 2017. This year is the year of the Fire Rooster, which is the tenth in 12 year-cycle of the Chinese zodiac sign. Rooster is a symbol of punctuality since rooster acted as the alarm clock for the ancestors in the past. Throughout the course of the weekend, celebrations were held throughout cities across the United States. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mongolian and Tibetan are the 6 communities celebrating the Lunar New Year. The celebrations typically include firecrackers, red paper lanterns, and, of course, lion dances. The following photographs were taken from January 27,2017 to January 29, 2017 in Philadelphia and New York by Photo Seminar 2017 .

MINH MAI

For my Lunar New Year assignment, I had the opportunity to shoot the celebration in New York City. People with different races gathered in Chinatown to pop the firecrackers and watch the dragon dance. It was not only packed with people but also the liveliness in the heart of Chinatown. Souvenir and gift shops were decorated with red color paper-cuts as it represents happiness, wealth and longevity. Red envelopes, which are given to each other, symbolize as luck. 2017 is the year of the Rooster. All of my photos were shot on the first day of Lunar New Year, which is the time to honor oneâ€™s elders. Families usually visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. There are many different opinions about whether countries celebrating Lunar New Year should change to normal New Year and get rid of the old tradition. I think it is very important to nourish what ancestors giving the future generations as the way to show the gratitude to their roots. Minh Mai

MINH MAI

Setting fire crackers and dancing in lion costume is a traditional way of Chinese people celebrating the lunar year. It can be traced back to 2000 years ago, and the reason of doing it is because the fire cracker scares away a monster called “Nian,” and bring good luck for the next year. As a native Chinese from Shanghai, I see this traditional culture dying as it is considered dangerous and disruptive. Luckily, Philadelphia’s Chinatown still practice this very old celebration and it attracts not only Chinese but Americans, Russians, and more. I’m so proud to see so many people are interested in my culture. Bilin Lin

BILIN LIN

Celebrations gathered around in Chinatown in Philadelphia, Pa., especially on January 29. 2017: the year of the rooster, the fire rooster, to be exact. In celebration of the Lunar Festival. In the Chinese culture, the fire rooster is a trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work. These personalities were put on display this past weekend in Philadelphia Chinatown. The sound and smoke of firecrackers filled the air with joy and smiles on peopleâ€™s faces, as they performed. To the Chinese culture, the lion signifies courage and stability, and its irresistible force is and its roar. Crowds of people came together on the streets of Chinatown, in Philadelphia, PA, to watch with an excitement of what was going on, and by following the performers as they move throughout the city. Drums were being played by various young talented youth and dancing was a big part of it all. A great Cultural event to attend next year and learn what it is to be a part of the Chinese New Years Lunar festival. Michelle Severino

MICHELLE SEVERINO

Homemade dumplings are a special part of celebrating the Lunar New Year for Chinese families. Nick Ke, 30, said the importance is that families make dumplings together, giving them an opportunity to reflect and discuss the past year with each other. “If I were to make dumpling alone,” Ke said, “ I’d feel very lonely.” To share the importance of dumpling-making with the general public, Yin Ye decided to hold a dumpling-making party Sunday, Jan. 29. This is the first year that Ye, and her company Yin Meets Yang International, held the event. Yin Meets Yang’s dumpling-making party attracted people from neighborhoods all over Philadelphia. Linda Douherty of Roxborough found the event online in a thread called “The Top Five Things to do for Lunar New Year in Philly.” Friends Jennifer Manosca and Jon Moody, who are engaged, and Brian and Melissa Flacon, attended together to because they were all interested in learning how to make dumplings. Darius Spence and Ashley Shockley of Dover, Delaware drove to Philadelphia because there are no events in Dover to celebrate the Lunar New Year. One of Spence’s co-workers told him about the event and encouraged him to attend. Ye taught the attendees to make vegetarian dumplings, with bean curd and kale, and meat dumplings with beef. She had individuals come forward to help prepare the fillings and chop up ingredients. Then she demonstrated how to fold and seal the dumplings before the audience dispersed into groups to make their own. Some dumplings looked professional, like the kind you get in a restaurant. Other’s took on interesting shapes, including one woman who attempted to make her dumpling in the shape of a rooster. After 20 minutes the groups came together to have their dumplings steamed or fried, and the group all enjoyed eating their creations with traditional sauces provided by the host. The event was such a success that Ye will hold it again next year, hoping to turn it into an annual event. JENNIFER KERRIGAN

Jennifer Kerrigan

JENNIFER KERRIGAN

TAYLOR STEVENS

These photos were taken at the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival in Philadelphia on January 27, 2017 and January 28, 2017. The celebration consisted of firecrackers, for warding away evil, and lion dances, for good luck. Hundreds of people came out to welcome in the year of the Fire Rooster. Taylor Stevens

TAYLOR STEVENS

The Chinese New Year fell on the weekend of January 27-29, 2017. Celebrations gathered around in Chinatown in Philadelphia, Pa., especially on January 29. At 10:45 AM, parade entertainers were prepping the beginning of the celebration on 10 Street. It was not like the typical parade in the United States, where people gather on the side to watch a ton of floats go by. Instead, there was a banner with a small group of individuals who led the event. People on the streets gathered around to watch with excitement of what was going on by following the entertainers walking through the street. Drums were being played and dancing was a part of it. Typically people call the beautiful, symbolic costume a dragon when instead it is actually a lion. They go about the streets to set off firecrackers that hang from a string with lettuce on it. People will normally hang it outside their business or home to get good luck in the new year. Crowd goers were in awe of what was happening, because of what the Chinese culture does during their New Year. As the parade was short, it still is something to check out in the next year. Michelle Naef

MICHELLE NAEF