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Lunar New Year arrives with a bang

by in News

  • Javier Rodriguez, a lion dancer with the Thien Long Lion Dancers takes a break on the lion costumes during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Kenn Nguyen, 3, dances during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • People attending the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 use their phones to video a string of 8000 firecrackers going off. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People attending the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 use their phones to video a string of 8000 firecrackers going off. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Lina Anh Lien, center, glances back as she joins other singers with the Angel Band during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A woman offers a lion dancer money during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Giau Nguyen, left, dances with Tina Nguyen, right, to the music of The Angel Band during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A boy gets lifted upon the shoulders of this father for a better view during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People attending the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 use their phones to video a string of 8000 firecrackers going off. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A roll of 8000 fireworks gets opened up during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People attending the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 cover their ears and take video of a string of 8000 firecrackers going off. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People walk past the remnants of thousands of firecrackers that were set off during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Victoria Mai, left, of Placentia and Kolarmy Nguyen of Toronto, Canada during dance to the music of The Angel Band at the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A girl, right, offers a lion dancer a gift during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Bao Vi, right, prays at the shine inside the Asian Garden Mall during the Lunar New Year Celebration in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A man lights a string of firecrackers during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A man holds a string of firecrackers as they begin to go off during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Hundreds of people pack the food court during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Singers with the band, The Angel Band, sing during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. Pictured, from left, Lina Anh Lien, Minh Nguyet, Bao Vi and Rubby Nguyen. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People have their photos taken near a giant inflatable dragon during the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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In a crackling burst, thousands of firecrackers were ignited early Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 5, at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster in a loud, festive welcoming to the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Pig.

Several thousand people were on hand for the Firecracker Celebration, many with smartphone cameras primed and ready to capture the pop and flash of the red-wrapped noise-makers. Traditionally, in Chinese culture, the sound of the firecrackers is meant to scare off evil spirits, a promising way to start the new year.

Festivities including the traditional Lion Dance and other cultural performances.

The Lunar New Year celebration will continue with the Tet Parade from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, on Bolsa Avenue at Saigon Street in Westminster; and the Tet Festival, which runs Friday, Feb. 8, through Sunday, Feb. 10, at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.