It was fortunate that the height of the Chinese New Year celebrations were not spoiled by the onslaught of snow that hit London later that same night. The air was bitterly cold and it began to snow in sporadic sessions here and there, but it was not enough to cripple the celebrations as yet. Gerard St in London's Chinatown was packed with revellers, all with cameras at the ready. I never felt so less out of place with my camera in hand and it was more a question of who didn't have their camera than who did.
Here's a few pics of what went down that day:
Dragon's Beard candy in the making. It can be likened in texture to Fairy Floss (Cotton Candy) or Pashmak, a confection that is traditionally made using honey and rock sugar. There were two of these stalls demonstrating how apparently easy it was to make the candy. A little rolling, a little rubbing, then some pulling and a little slight of hand and there you have yourself some Dragon's Beard candy. It was like a magic trick. They were selling them for £3 per box.
A familiar sight at any Chinatown you go to are the ducks hanging from the restaurant windows inviting hungry passer-bys into the shop. Sweet buns were also selling fast.
It started snowing quite quickly, but disappeared as fast as it appeared. It later turned into the infamous snowfall that crippled London the next day.
As you can see, it was blaringly obvious everywhere you went what year it was on the Chinese zodiac, the year of the Ox. This man was getting really into character.
Everyone followed the beat of the drum and the dance of the dragon as it made its way through the streets and warded off evil spirits as it is fabled to do.
Stunning celebration!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Photo's! hope you had an awesome New Year!
ReplyDeleteLooks good Jen. I was thinking of you when we were at the food growers market at the weekend. The weather here couldn't be any more different to the weather in London
ReplyDeleteThis looks like great fun. And I would love to eat there on the street - my, it all looks so good!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. Looks like a good time was had by all (except the clean-up guys).
ReplyDeleteEvery year I tell myself I'm going to make it to a Chinese New Year celebration and every year I bail. It's too easy when it's so cold out but you images have me regretting my actions.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Chinese New Year to you! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day. I'm longing to visit chinatown but never got there yet. All the stalls and the atmosphere sound amazing.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a wide range of merchandise available there (much more than here). Great for photo opps! Hope you had a good time.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful account of a gorgeous celebration.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Photo Story. Thanks for sharing such lovely pictures :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a grand party!
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese New Year celebrations are pretty much alike where ever the Chinese live - London, New York or California - its all the same - fun and festivity in the air plus all the yummy food.
ReplyDeleteVery lovely! Makes me miss home even more!
ReplyDeletesuch awesome shots!
ReplyDeleteI love all the red!
ReplyDeleteCiao!!all you make is wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteCompliments!! mmmmH "I don't speak english, but I follow you!"
Hello!!! all you make is meraviglioso!!
ReplyDeleteciao
Wonderful photos. All the red looks stunning.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos!!!
ReplyDeleteThe snapshots looks so inviting..here i have once attended the chinese new year celebration at my friend's house. i like the noodles the most...uphere it is very hard to find chinese food products. my friend introducted me to a great resource www.myethnicworld.com and i thought that i pass great along as well.
ReplyDeletethe pictures you post are sooo beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! Very nice celebration...
ReplyDeleteCiao.
Orchidea
it wasn't CNY but a couple of years ago the Sweet Dragon Beard guy had a woman guarding people from taking photos of him making the product. i think she was worried we were going to steal his secrets!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMy Name is Sharon. Your blog is good online source for food lovers. As I am also into food research. Its a good blog with lots of information. Keep the good work on.
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Thanks & Regards,
Sharon
magnifique ton blog et tes photos
ReplyDeletebay
O Blogger, where art thou?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteThis is really a well laid out website. I like how you have presented your information in excellent detail. The photos are absolutely beautiful. You seem to really love your site. Keep up the great work here and please visit by my blog sometime. The url is http://healthy-nutrition-facts.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteDragon beard cookies is nice! The man with the bull horn kinda funny!
ReplyDeleteGreat reportage, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
ReplyDeleteA while ago you have been nominated to Inspiring Food Photography poll and I would want also to give you Beautiful Blog award (replacement for IFP event):
http://www.coffeeandvanilla.com/?p=7020
If you agree place link or badge linking to the B B List somewhere on your site or mention it in the post and I will place your link on the list.
Margot
hi Jenn! it's been quite a while since ur last entry!. Hope everything is alrite in London! Take care- and sending fond thoughts!
ReplyDeleteAn other article soon???
ReplyDelete:D
that looks like soooo much fun!!...hopefully one day ill be able to go to exotic places and celebrate things like that
ReplyDeleteI love those photos. I bet it was complete chaos with all of those people.
ReplyDeleteLooks like quite a celebration!
ReplyDeleteAll pictures are awesome........Lovely party
ReplyDeleteBelated happy Chinese new year. All pictures are very colorful and awesome shot.
ReplyDeleteChina is really a great country which has touched the heights in just 60 years of independence.
ReplyDeletehi jen, long time since your last post. I sincerely hope that you're ok and you just have given up blogging!
ReplyDeleteThose were delightful photographs, very fun!
ReplyDeletestunning pics...m a great foodie myself..cant wait to gorge on dis ASAP.. :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks absolutely amazing.. so colorful, damn wish it was that big in Sydney :)
ReplyDeleteMy blog =)
Great blog! How could I not read one called "milk and cookies" haha :) Seems like a wonderful celebration. Check out my blog if you wish - love finding new readers and sites! Cheers.
ReplyDelete