With the weather forecast predicting a torrential downpour, I nearly skipped the Chinese New Year Parade. An hour before the scheduled start time I realized it was clearing and decided to run down there to see if I could capture some of it on film. I arrived a little late, the skies were grey, it did rain, and the light was flat and uninteresting, but I tried to make the best of it. I learned later that rain is actually auspicious on the parade day, as money is said to flow like water and the falling rain symbolizes prosperity in the coming year. Either way, it seemed a fitting way to welcome the year of the water dragon in the rainy city of Vancouver.
↑ The God of Fortune is said to come down from the heavens on this day, and is welcomed with fireworks and firecrackers. The human incarnation of the God of Fortune needed a little help staying dry in the rain today.
↑ A shopkeeper looks on from his storefront as the parade passes by.
↑ A child reaches out to pet a lion as it writhes and contorts down the street.
↑ The Keeper of the Firecrackers leads the large dragon through the parade and periodically lights bundles of firecrackers that he then tosses onto the street.
More images can be seen in my Google+ gallery.
