New York’s Chinatown welcomes Year of the Pig with drums, dragons and dancers

Drums, dragons and dancers paraded through New York’s Chinatown on Sunday to usher in the Year of the Pig in the metropolis with the biggest population of Chinese descent of any city outside Asia.

Confetti and spectators a half-dozen or more deep at points lined the route of the Lunar New Year Parade in lower Manhattan.

“The pig year is one of my favourite years, because it means lucky – everybody likes lucky – and, for me, a relationship or family” and a better life, Eva Zou said as she awaited the marchers. “Because I just moved here several months ago, so it’s a big challenge for me, but I feel so happy now.”

There is an animal associated with every year in the 12-year Chinese astrological cycle, and the Year of the Pig started February 5.