This Is How Latin America Celebrated the Chinese New Year

By  Yara Simón

RGS1770

This year, Chinese New Year, aka China’s most important holiday, fell on February 8. The day before, families celebrated with a big meal. By Monday, they lit fireworks and decorated everything in red. The color plays an important role in the holiday – which Vox described as a mix of Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve – because as legend has it, a small group of villagers scared off a monster by making noise and hanging red decorations.

Historically, Chinese New Year fell on the day “when farmers could rest from their work in the fields,” based on the lunar calendar. The holiday is now celebrated all around the world, and Latin America is no different. Here’s how they welcome the year of the monkey:

1

Mexico City

Alejandra Sanchez

http://instagram.com/p/BBkB-6ALREH/

2

Panama

3

Parque Bustamante in Santiago, Chile

4

Buenos Aires, Argentina

http://instagram.com/p/BBklGhzS1YZ/

5

Lima, Peru

Andina
Andina

http://instagram.com/p/BBiARCdKeSe/?taken-at=1439552

http://instagram.com/p/BBlbyRYL48C/

6

Havana, Cuba

7

São Paulo, Brazil

chinese new year