Todays images are of ‘The Chinese New Year Celebrations’ on Saturday 28th January 2012.
This year is the Chinese Year of the Dragon, the fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac.
In the morning there was a procession through the Citys’ Chinese Quarter starting at the City Hall proceeding along the Amsterdamse Veerkade, Wagenstraat, Gedempte Burgwall and back to the City Hall where the formal celebrations took place with dignitaries from The Hague and China present.
In the afternoon the second part of ‘The Chinese New Year Celebrations’ took place along a similar route but this time there were lion and dragon dances and the setting of of firecrackers in the front of each Chinese business in the quarter.
Dragons and lions are traditionally part of the Chinese New Year Celebrations but this year is a little more special given that it is the Chinese year of the dragon. The Dragon Dance expresses gratitude to the dragon and symbolises the bringing of good luck and success to everyone in the coming year. The Chinese Lion Dance is a traditional part of Chinese culture, with lions seen as a symbol for joy and happiness. Tradition has it that the exploding of firecrackers either wakes up the dragon who then flies across the skies to bring rain or that the firecrackers ward of evil spirits.
Chinese Gate at the Amsterdamse Veerkade on Chinese New Year Celebrations in The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Chinese New Year Procession at the Chinese Gate, Amsterdamse Veerkade, The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Lion in the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Dragon leading the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Lion in the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Lion in the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Perfomers in the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Lion in the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Lion in the Chinese New Years Procession. The Hague. 29 January 2012.
Todays photographs were taken on 28 January 2012.
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