For a sweet new year

The Big Picture

For a sweet new year

by Richard Cahan and Joerg Metzner January 22nd, 2023January 23rd, 2023

The Main-Dempster Mile welcomed the Year of the Rabbit and celebrated the Lunar New Year on Sunday with lantern making, tea, wish envelopes and a performance by the Seven Star Lion Dance Group on Dempster Street, east of Chicago Avenue. Credit: Joerg Metzner

A performance by the Seven Star Lion Dance Group, based in Chicago’s Chinatown, was a highlight of Sunday’s Lunar New Year celebration. Credit: Joerg Metzner

A child along Dempster Street offers fruit to a lion dancer at the Evanston Lunar New Year Celebration. Tangerines and oranges are symbols of luck and prosperity. The lion spits them back to share the good year with the crowd. Credit: Richard Cahan

More than 100 people filled the block of Dempster Street east of Chicago Avenue. Credit: Richard Cahan

Efia Peng and Jeff Brown watch the Evanston Lunar New Year Celebration on Sunday along Dempster Street. They met in China and have been married for eight years. “I’m Chinese so I’m definitely celebrating the New Year,” said Peng. “It makes me feel more included in this community.” Credit: Richard Cahan

The lion dances down Dempster Street. “All the moves, all the techniques are martial arts based,” said James Wong, who was the head of the lion. He’s been dancing 30 years. Credit: Richard Cahan

Some children were scared to get close. Credit: Richard Cahan

The lion dancers have 12 scheduled performances this week. “I have strong forearms,” said James Wong. “We lift 25 to 30 pounds constantly going over our head.” Credit: Richard Cahan

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Richard Cahan

Richard Cahan takes photos for the Evanston RoundTable. He also is publisher of CityFiles Press, a small but mighty media company that believes in the power of words and pictures. You can reach him at... More by Richard Cahan

Joerg Metzner

Joerg Metzner is a photographer and graphic designer from Germany who has been calling Evanston home since 1993. More by Joerg Metzner

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