Between January 21st and February 19th each year, the Chinese New Year takes place over a two-week period. It’s the second new moon since the winter solstice that marks the first day of the Chinese calendar, a luni-solar calendar based as much on solar cycles to count the years as on lunar cycles to count the months. Every three years, an intercalary month adjusts the correspondence with the Gregorian calendar.
All over the world, wherever there is a Chinese or Vietnamese diaspora, but also perhaps on a smaller scale Japanese, Korean or Tibetan, the Chinese New Year is celebrated.
2026. The Year of the Fire Horse will be celebrated on February 17.
In Paris, it’s in Belleville and especially in the XIIIth arrondissement that the event is celebrated with lion and dragon dances.
Curious onlookers crowd the streets to watch the lion and dragon parades, drum floats and other musicians, or to sample Vietnamese or Chinese specialties.
In the middle or late afternoon, firecrackers are lit to scare away evil spirits.
Tarek Charara
Text and images © 2023 Tarek Charara/Kaleidos images.
All rights reserved.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The various associations parade. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. Participants wait for the parade to begin. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The various associations parade. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. Participants wait for the parade to begin. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. For two thousand years, in Asian traditions, firecrackers have been lit to chase away demons and ask for peace and happiness for the new year. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. Pop-up stands have been set up on both sides of the street and offer culinary and other specialties. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The Dragon Dance. The oriental dragon is a symbol of happiness and prosperity. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The balloon seller. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. For two thousand years, in Asian traditions, firecrackers have been lit to chase away demons and ask for peace and happiness for the new year. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. Dragon and lion heads are placed before local elected officials and other dignitaries of the Asian community of Belleville. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. Participants wait for the parade to begin. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Belleville. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. For two thousand years, in Asian traditions, firecrackers have been lit to chase away demons and ask for peace and happiness for the new year. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The various associations parade. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom. He chases away evil spirits by roaring. The lion dance brings good luck. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
Chinese New Year 2023
Paris, France. Thirteenth district. Chinese New Year 2023, year of the “Water Rabbit”. The lion dance. The lion dance. The dancers take off their costumes. Chinese New Year marks the first day of the lunar year, the date of which varies on the Gregorian calendar, but always falls between January twenty-first and February nineteen.
