Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco, Saturday, March 7, 2015

San Francisco Chronicle/SF Gate/Inside Scoop/Sarah Fritsche, 3/5/15, "Where to eat and drink along the Chinese New Year parade," includes parade map.

The parade always has a dragon or several

Year of the sheep/goat/ram

"The Year of the Ram has been in full swing for a few weeks now, but the festivities will culminate with the annual Chinese New Year Parade, which begins at 5:15 p.m. this Saturday in downtown San Francisco. To celebrate, the Chronicle Food staff offers our guide for eating and drinking along the parade’s route, from the Second and Market starting point to the Columbus/Kearny finish line. After all, keeping up with colorful floats, lion dancers, marching bands and Chinese acrobats is sure to work up an appetite."

Referenced event - from the Chinese New Year Parade link above. ...."Over 100 units will participate in the Southwest Airlines® Chinese New Year Parade. A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain the many hundreds of thousands of people that come to watch it on the street or tune in to watch it on television on KTVU Fox 2 or KTSF Channel 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 7, 2015."

Referenced Chinese Zodiac signs - Travel China guide,"Sheep/Goat/Ram."  China Highlights, Year of the Goat

Related article - Refinery 29/Suzanne White, Chinese Astrologer, 2/19/15, "What will the Year of the Sheep mean for you? .... "Sheep years are thought to be Yin — softer and less warlike than other years. However, Sheep years can also offer belligerent spirit and penurious periods aplenty. When Sheep are challenged, they can turn from peace-loving Yinsters to aggressors and self-pitiers. The same is true of Sheep years: They may at first give us an impression of serenity. But, just you wait. In my heart, I would love to reassure all of my readers that this coming Sheep year, 2015, will be warm apple pie and roses all year long — but truthfully, I don't think that will be the case. ....  A Sheep year is not about ambition, success, or money. Instead, it's about people and their essential needs. Efforts to relieve poverty and stamp out rampant illness will be favored. Those who invent and innovate can expect to be given time and even funds; money-hungry folks, meanwhile, will ride a bumpy road ahead. Why? Sheep don’t care about accumulating cash. They care about musing in fertile fields, making and building things, and they care about routine — a safe, unchanging routine they can be guided by, and which allows them to do more of what they are passionate about."

Note graphic and photograph.  Year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat from Deal Tracker SF, "Gung Hay Fat Choy." Dragon from a 2013 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, 2013, You tube, 23:48 minutes.

Posted by Kathy Meeh