Even if you're not Asian and never celebrate the Lunar New Year (we entered the Year of the Dragon Monday), how can you refute the holiday's traditions: forgive grudges, pay off debts, clean the house, remember your past, and light firecrackers? Off-Ramp host John Rabe went to LA's Chinatown, heard the noise of half a million firecrackers, and talked Miss Chinatown 2011 Shirley Zhang.
Posing with the kitchen god.
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)
LA Chinatown: Teo Chew Association's Chinese New Year shrine.
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)
Shopkeeps in Chinatown celebrate the New Year.
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)
The lion.
(
John Rabe
)
A Chinese dragon.
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)
Lettuce hanging above the doorway of the Teo Chew Association, part of the Chinese New Year observation.
(
John Rabe
)
(
John Rabe
)