A blend of typical American marching processions and the traditional Lantern Festival of China can be visualised during the Chinese New Year parade. Although the dragon dance is the main symbol of the Chinese New Year celebration, one can also see the beauty pageant with elaborate costumes, floats, and marching bands taking part in the New Year parade.
The Chinese New Year parade dragon stretches a hundred feet long and is usually made of silk, paper and bamboo. It is customary to hold the dragon aloft by young men who dance. The dragon dance is generally accompanied with the drums and gongs and is a whirling and rising up kind of a dance. Around the dragon dance, lots of firecrackers are set off so that they drive away evil spirits.
