Chinatown Celebrates the Year of the Pig! 

Chinatown Celebrates the Year of the Pig!

2019 welcomed the Year of the Pig! Did you know that Chinese New Year is celebrated over several days? Pigs are symbols of wealth and bountifulness, and Chinatown certainly experienced a month full of rich activities.

For Chinatown, Chinese New Year celebrations started on Saturday, February 2nd. PCDC and the Reading Terminal Market partnered for the fourth year in a row to introduce Chinese New Year activities and events to those at the Market. In the early morning, PCDC led the Chinatown Chinese New Year Tasting & Walking Tour, which taught visitors what, how, and where to eat and buy goods for Chinese New Year.

At Reading Terminal Market, PCDC and volunteers from Drexel’s SASE, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University coordinated various activities and events including: calligraphy, cooking demos, dance performances, and a lion dance throughout the entire market.

Performers/Activities by: Mr. Bingqing Peng, L&M Dance Studio, Michelle Lu, Philadelphia Suns, and Sang Kee Peking Duck.

On Monday night, February 4th, the Philadelphia Suns marched through 10th Street, visiting various businesses with their lion costumes and fireworks to ward off any evil spirits and bring in a year of prosperity. Crowds could be seen gathering as early as the afternoon to get a good spot.

Chinese New Year festivities continued on Sunday, February 10th, with the Lion Dance Parade. Thousands poured into the streets to catch a glimpse of the parade, which walked throughout Chinatown. Firecrackers, drums, and cymbals could be heard blocks away.