City turns out to welcome the Year of the Pig
CHINESE New Year has been welcomed in with style in Newcastle.
Hundreds lined the streets to watch a spectacular parade to celebrate the beginning of the year of the pig.
The start of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar fell on February 5 but Sunday saw the annual public festivities in the city centre.
Dragon dancers, drummers and flag wavers paraded from Old Eldon Square to Chinatown, waved on by spectators the whole way.
One of those taking part was Candy Wong, 54, who
was born in Hong Kong but has lived in Newcastle for 40 years. She said: “It’s a very important holiday, a very special occasion for us.
“It’s very special to me that I can still celebrate it like this in England and it’s amazing to have this sort of support from the community.”
Newcastle University student Coco Yang, 23, was also watching the traditional celebrations.
She said: “It’s as big as Christmas for us and it’s a time for family and traditional activities.
“Chinese New Year is unique, there’s nothing else like it.
“It’s a bit strange to be celebrating my first one in England but it’s great.”
Check out our gallery of pictures from the spectacular event at www.chroniclelive.co.uk.