Philly's Chinatown Community Celebrates Lunar New Year
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's Chinatown echoed with firecrackers and drums on Sunday as the community celebrated the lunar New Year, which began Friday.
The celebration attracts thousands of people from all over the region.
No fewer than eight dancing lions paraded around Chinatown, throngs following them as they stopped at storefronts and restaurants to oversee the lighting of long strings of firecrackers -- an ancient tradition that is drawing a new audience.
"Five years ago, you could hardly know this existed, it was hard to find but it's quite popular now, as you see."
"It's fun, my son loves the fireworks and then we have a nice meal."
"This is really as close to the real celebration as can be."
"It's very loud, it's very exciting"
Suzanna Wong of the Hip Sing Association, which helps put on the celebration, says its popularity is good for the community, but also a good sign for the city.
"There's more immigration here," Wong says. "That means our Philadelphia is more attractive."
And it's very good for anyone selling firecrackers.