CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Lunar New Year celebrations are taking place across Chicago this weekend.
The Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration with a "Year of the Dragon" parade kicked off from Arglye and Winthrop Saturday.
This was followed by many performances of traditional music and dance. The event brought hundreds of people to this predominantly Southeast Asian operated business corridor.
Lion dancers stopped in front of each of the mostly Southeast Asian- owned shops and restaurants on Argyle as spectators watched and cheered. This tradition is intended to bring luck and prosperity in the new Year of the Dragon.
Over in Bridgeport, a new Asian American community has formed and comprises those who were exiled from their homelands. Many are from Tibet and Hong Kong — and are regularly joined by Taiwanese Americans. On Saturday, as they observed many of the Chinese traditions that were on full display during Lunar New Year celebrations, they also held on to the unique traditions they fear would disappear under the control of China.
Eleanor Luk is an organizer for the HongKongers Community Center. She said part of their goal is to educate people on the cultural and linguistic differences between HongKongers and Chinese citizens, and why it's important to preserve their heritage.
"We celebrate each others cultures and honor each others cultures, so we grow together," she added.
A full weekend of events have been planned, including the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown that will take place Sunday along Wentworth.
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