The dragons are waiting.
When they finally emerge from the Olympics slab (13th century), the crowd rejoices.
“It's a lucky charm to start the year off right,” smiles Laurent.
Chinese, of Cambodian origin, he grabs two sticks of incense.
“I'm a bit superstitious so it's important to me.
Normally we deposit the offerings at the temple but there is a deity in the parade, it is the God of fortune!
he explains.
I will place the incense at his feet.
In addition this year it is the first parade of my son who is 5 years old.
His mother is French, I'm happy that he attends Asian parties, that he knows his double culture”.
The parade, organized in the 13th arrondissement since 1989, had not taken place since 2019 because of the health crisis.
The Arfoi association (Association of residents in France of Indochinese origin
)
, which organizes it, was finally able to get all the costumes out of the boxes.
In the neighborhood, without a car for the occasion, the queues are getting longer in front of restaurants, pastries and balloon sellers.
Firecrackers to ward off the evil eye
Along the avenue d'Ivry, we jostle to find a place of choice.
Difficult as both sides of the avenue are crowded.
The absence of parade created the lack.
Jeanne stands on tiptoe, directly opposite the exit of the dragons under the Olympiads.
“I have lived in the neighborhood for 37 years.
I know all the young people who will parade, my children went to school with them.
My son wanted to participate but it is the most athletic who lift the dragons, you have to be able to carry a man on your shoulders”.
After several months of rehearsal, the dancers of the neighborhood association were finally able to parade for the New Year.
In front of his shop on avenue de Choisy, Yi Ling hung a garland of firecrackers on a tree.
"It's to ward off the evil eye!"
" she says.
The firecrackers will be lit when the Buddha passes.
The shopkeeper is also awaiting the passage of her 10-year-old daughter.
With her dance association, she parades at the end of the parade.
Braving the cold, Françoise and Stéphane have been present since the morning.
“We are followers!
We came from Salon-de-Provence on purpose, explains Françoise.
This is an opportunity to enjoy good Asian meals, to see our friends.
Yesterday evening (
Saturday evening editor's note
) we shared a delicious Vietnamese New Year's meal. I am very moved to see all the young people and all the associations in the neighborhood showing what they have been preparing for months.
We will be back next year!
".
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