Lunar New Year Parade in NYC's Chinatown celebrates the Year of the Tiger
CHINATOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Thousands gathered in Chinatown for the 24th annual Lunar New Year parade on Sunday.
Traditionally the Lunar New Year Festival lasts around 40 days, and in China, the country observes a seven-day-long state holiday.
The celebrations started in New York City on February 1, with the Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival.
This year the parade stepped off on the corner of Hester Street and Mott Street.
And 11-year-old William Franklyn was blown away by all of the magic.
"You get to see the lion dance, lots of funny things going on as well, it's amazing," said Franklyn.
The Chinese lunar calendar cycle repeats every 12 years, and 2022 is the Year of the Tiger.
The tiger signals bravery, courage, strength and hope during what has been an extremely difficult and violent time for many living in the community.
"We need to stop Asian hate," said spectator Marrisa Senteno. "The only way to do that is if we are part sharing each other's joys and also supporting each other in each other's difficulties."
A wide range of organizations took part in this year's parade, and some are about to get a much needed influx of money.
Before the parade, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced $10 million in awards for organizations providing services to Asian American communities that were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding, allocated in the fiscal year 2021 to 2022 budget, will be distributed to community-based groups through the Asian American Federation (AAF), the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), and the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), as well as other organizations.
There will be a focus on providers that bring community programs and supportive services directly to New York's Asian American communities.
"It's good news to us but I know it's not an easy problem to fix overnight, we have to be patient," said Shirley Ng from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
The investment will be the largest in the Asian American community in New York State history.
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