Celebrating the Year of the Pig in Chinatown (photos)

Crowds at times several rows deep lined the streets surrounding the Chinatown neighborhood in Washington, D.C., to usher in the Year of the Pig at the Chinese Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 10. The parade, which featured traditional lion and dragon dances, firecrackers, beauty pageant winners and community groups, was once again organized by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, an umbrella group of Chinese American organizations.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and a delegation of local politicians led the parade, joined by representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.

Chinese New Year is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to a 12-year cycle. 

The Pig is the twelfth zodiac animal. In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth, their chubby faces and big ears signs of fortune. According to Chinese astrology, 2019 will be a great year to make money and a good year to invest. You are a “pig” if you were born in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 or 2007.

View Jeff Malet’s photos from the 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year Parade in Washington, D.C., by clicking on the photo icons below.

tagsChinatownChineseChinese New YearMayor Muriel BowserTaiwanYear of the Pig