This old neighborhood in Lower Manhattan has been known as “Chinatown” since the mid-eighteenth century.
While it hasn’t been the center of New York’s Chinese life for decades, the area remains the city’s oldest and best-known Chinatown (New York’s other Chinatowns are located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Flushing, Queens) and it is still the site of the region’s largest lunar New Year celebration.
Today, the narrow, twisting streets were filled beyond capacity as thousands of people squeezed in to buy souvenirs, cheer the dancers, drummers and marchers, and twist the cardboard tubes of confetti shooters ($5 each! Three for $10!) until their contents exploded, showering the crowd with shiny paper and foil.
This year, as the parade welcoming the Year of the Rat drew to a end, a sudden, fierce snowstorm erupted. The swirling white flakes mixed with the brightly-colored steamers, delighting the children, quickly clearing out the celebrants and creating a memorable close to this chilly, festive day.
New Year’s decorations for sale on Mott Street
The streets were packed
The star of the day, the New Year’s Rat
Getting a good view of the parade
Boy with a lion costume
Displaying white lion mask
Good thing Dad is tall
Some kids can’t see a thing
Wearing mouse ears to honor the Rat
Grown-ups wore mouse ears, too
Metallic streamers landed in her hair
Father & daughter try to trigger confetti shooter
Boy with confetti shooter
Girl with New Year’s sweets
Paper dragon in a storefront
Enthralled by the spectacle
A smile as big as the parade
Girl having a great time
The air was filled with confetti
That isn’t just paper falling!
It’s snowing!
The crowd starts to clear out
Soon only the police are left walking through the storm
Posted by annulla 
