Between January 21 and February 20 of each year, the so-called “Chinese New Year” takes place over a period of fifteen days. It is based on a lunisolar calendar: the first day usually corresponds to the second new moon after the winter solstice, and an intercalary month, added every two to three years, aligns this calendar with the solar year. The festivities conclude on the fifteenth day with the Lantern Festival.

In 2027, Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, February 6, marking the beginning of the Year of the Fire Goat; the Lantern Festival will take place on Saturday, February 20. In Paris, the big parade in the 13th arrondissement is traditionally held on the Sunday following the New Year, which is February 7, subject to confirmation of the official schedule.

Wherever there are Chinese, Vietnamese, or other Asian diaspora communities, the New Year is celebrated. In Paris, the event really takes off in Belleville and especially in the 13th arrondissement. Curious onlookers crowd the streets to watch the lions and dragons parade by, along with the drum floats and musicians, or to sample Chinese and Vietnamese specialties. The lion, a symbol of strength, courage, and wisdom, is believed to ward off evil spirits; the dragon dance, a symbol of happiness and prosperity, brings good luck for the coming year. In the middle or late afternoon, firecrackers are set off to ward off evil spirits, a tradition dating back two thousand years.

Tarek Charara

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