WASHINGTON — When the clock struck midnight Monday night to mark Lunar New Year, dozens in Washington were parading behind vivacious lion dancers through the streets of Chinatown.
The event, appropriately named “Midnight Madness,” filled the air with sounds of pounding drums. The crowd stopped at legacy businesses offering symbols of luck and prosperity.
“A lot of people that come to D.C. Chinatown think that it’s dying,” said Ellen Feng, office manager for the nonprofit 1882 Foundation. “This is our way of being like, ‘No, it’s not.’ People still come out and celebrate Chinese New Year.”
The D.C.-based nonprofit organization focuses on Chinese American visibility. It hosted the event, while the Hung Ci Lion Dance Troupe brought the main program.
“Our tagline is ‘Woven into the American narrative,’” Feng said. “Our events focus on giving people an opportunity to either share their story or connect with those in the community.”
