Chinese New Year Parade - Lunar on the Champs-Elysées 2025

Folks, it's time to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Wood Snake. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, which, as you'd expect, is based on the lunar calendar, the Champs-Elysées are marking the occasion once again this year. The event will take place on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 3pm, departing from Fouquet's Paris.

Invited by the Chinese Tourist Office in Paris, Fouquet's Paris and Groupe Barrière, theMugua association is organizing a Hanfu parade on the Champs-Élysées. Everyone is invited to dress in traditional Chinese clothing to follow the procession. If you don't have your own, the association is happy to rent them out, with make-up available on request. Please note that this Sunday, February 2, the Champs-Élysées are reserved for pedestrians.

Departing from 99 avenue des Champs-Élysées, the parade will continue to 104 avenue.

Chinese New Year parades, which celebrate the Spring Festival, are a vibrant and colorful celebration marking the start of the New Year according to the Chinese lunar calendar, as well as Vietnamese, Korean and many others. These festivities, which can last up to two weeks, are the expression of centuries-old cultural traditions and have profound significance for Chinese communities around the world.

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The heart of these celebrations is embodied by the parades, dazzling spectacles of color, sound and movement. The streets come alive with dancing dragons and lions, symbols of strength, courage and good fortune, who weave their way through the crowds to the sound of cymbals, drums and firecrackers, believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good luck for the coming year.

Beyond the spectacle, these parades carry a profound meaning. They are an opportunity for families and communities to come together, renew social ties and share wishes for prosperity, health and happiness. Chinese New Year is a time for reflection, renewal and hope, symbolizing the transition from the old to the new and the aspiration to a better future.

Check out last year's images:

Finally, Chinese New Year parades transcend cultural boundaries, inviting people of all origins to join in the celebration. They offer a window onto the diversity and richness of Chinese culture, while promoting harmony and understanding between peoples. Through these festivities, the universal message of peace, happiness and renewal is beautifully expressed, strengthening the bonds of understanding and friendship throughout the world.

The Chinese New Year parade on the Champs-Élysées may not be the most imposing, but it's still a wonderful celebration on Paris's most emblematic avenue. For other Lunar New Year parades, be sure to consult our guide.