User:HopeWanhala/sandbox

Copy and paste from Wikipedia orientation:

Paragraph: This helps you set the style of the text. For example, a header, or plain paragraph text. You can also use it to offset block quotes.

A : Highlight your text, then click here to format it with bold, italics, etc. The "More" options allows you to underline, add code snippets, and change language keyboards.

Links: The chain button allows you to link your text. Hi†ghlight the word, and push the button. VisualEditor will automatically suggest related Wikipedia articles for that word or phrase. This is a great way to connect your article to more Wikipedia content. You only have to link important words once, usually during the first time they appear. If you want to link to pages outside of Wikipedia (for an "external links" section, for example) click on the "External link" tab.

Cite: The citation tool in VisualEditor helps format your citations. You can simply paste a DOI or URL, and the VisualEditor will try to sort out all of the fields you need. Be sure to review it, however, and apply missing fields manually (if you know them). You can also add books, journals, news, and websites manually. That opens up a quick guide for inputting your citations. Finally, you can click the "re-use" tab if you've already added a source and just want to cite it again.

Bullets: To

• add
• bullet
• points

1. or
2. a
3. numbered
4. list

insert practice

Insert: This tab lets you add media, images, or tables.

Ω The final tab allows you to add special characters, such as those found in non-English words, scientific notation, and a handful of language extensions. °á§÷×

dolphins

video

dolphins

bold - links to boldness but says bold [[article|text

bold and link wikilink video

shift back slash |||| _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ =]]   

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is an annual event held in San Francisco. Held approximately two weeks following the first day of the Chinese New Year, it combines elements of the Chinese Lantern Festival with a typical American parade. First held in 1858^[1] along what are today Grant Avenue and Kearny Street, it is the oldest and largest event of its kind outside of Asia, and the largest Asian cultural event in North America. The parade route begins on Market Street and terminates in Chinatown. 

History[edit source | edit]

The California Gold Rush caused many Chinese immigrants to come to San Francisco and work in gold mines and on railroads in order to find wealth and a better life. In the 1860's the Chinese community who wanted to share their Chinese culture with others, blended their traditions with American traditions and held a parade with flags, banners, lanterns, drums and firecrackers which led to what is now known as the The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade.

Events[edit source | edit]

Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Festival and Parade incorporates two main fairs, the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and Chinatown Community Street Fair. Miss Chinatown USA is traditionally present at the parade, as is a 200 foot long Golden Dragon manned inside by upwards of 100 puppeteers. 600,000 firecrackers ended the 2012 parade. In 2012, over 100 groups participated in the parade.

Asian Art Museum

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco holds special events to celebrate the Chinese New Year. They offer Family Fun Days which include activities such as storytelling, gallery activities, and art projects themed to the year's Chinese zodiac. Families can learn about Chinese symbols and flowers and plants through activities. The museum also offers children guides that they can complete to learn about the Lunar New Year and the zodiac animals, and win prizes after completing the guide. During the museum's Lunar New Year Celebration event, museum-goers can watch schools come to perform Chinese dances and music, martial arts, a lion dance, Chinese stories. People can create art projects, learn to walk on stilts, and learn a ribbon dance.

SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce/Southwest AirlinesⓇ Basketball Jamboree

Every year about sixty boys and girls from San Francisco Middle Schools and Chinatown North Beach community play six basketball games to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year Run

An annual Chinese New Year fundraising 5K and 10K run and walk is held by the Chinatown YMCA. After the race, participants receive awards, goodies and a T-shirt, refreshments, and can engage in family activities and sponsor booths. An award is given for the best dressed according to the year's Chinese zodiac. Proceeds support community and wellness programs for youth and teens such as Chinatown YMCA's Community Center and Physical Education Program.

Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair

The weekend before Chinese New Year Day, a Lunar New Year Fair takes place in San Francisco's Chinatown. Vendors line the streets and sell goods including traditional flowers, plants, fruits and candies which people give as gifts to family and friends, or used for house decorations. Throughout the streets traditional Chinese performances take place such as magic shows, acrobatics, folk dancing, and opera.

Great happiness is symbolized with fruits such as tangerines and oranges. Tangerines having intact leaves symbolize secure relationships, and for newlyweds, means the start of a family with children.

A Chinese candy box, called Tray of Togetherness or Harmony box, is a sectional tray used to serve bite-sized treats, such as candied melon, red melon seeds, candied coconut, and lotus seeds to wish guests a sweet new year.

Many Chinese people think it is important to have flowers and plants for the New Year. Plants and flowers represent growth and plants that bloom on the day of the New Year symbolize prosperity for the year.

CCHP Chinatown YMCA Chinese New Year Run

About 500,000 people go to the Chinatown Community Street Fair. The two-day fair and its entertainment are planned by the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce which present over 80 concessions and booths on the weekend that the Chinese New Year Parade is held. Entertainment includes folk dance, opera,drumming, family photos, giant puppets, lion dances, fine arts demonstrations, calligraphy, lantern making, and kite making.

Miss Chinatown USA Pageant

An annual pageant where Chinese women from the United states compete to become Miss Chinatown USA, a Chinese community goodwill ambassador, along with winning prizes and scholarships. Miss Chinatown USA will be crowned with her court at the Caesars Entertainment Miss Chinatown USA Coronation Ball where a dinner and dance will be held. Other winning titles in the pageant are Miss Chinese Chamber of Commerce/First Princess, Miss Talent, Miss San Francisco Chinatown, Second Princess, Third Princess, Fourth Princess.

San Francisco Symphony Chinese New Year Celebration

Each year, the San Francisco Symphony celebrates Chinese New Year with a concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Those who purchase tickets can attend a Festival Reception before the concert at Davies Symphony Hall. This reception includes entertainment such as crafts, arts, lion dancing, calligraphy, food, and tea bars. A Chinese Dragon Dance marks the beginning of the concert and the San Francisco Symphony presents music from Eastern and Western music traditions and music from Asian composers. After the concert those who purchased dinner packages can attend the Imperial Dinner held at the Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall on 300 Franklin Street. The Orchestra's musical education programs from over 75,00 school in the Bay Area receive the proceeds from the Festival Reception and Imperial Dinner.

Entrants[edit source | edit]

• The Yau Kung Moon Kung Fu Association entry won the parade contest for 10 straight years.^[2]
• The International School of the Peninsula has entered and won numerous awards for their floats.

References[edit source | edit]

1. Jump up^ 
2. Jump up^ [1]

External links[edit source | edit]

• San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade official site
• Parade at the Chinatown San Francisco website

Categories:

• Chinese New Year
• Culture of San Francisco
• Festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Parades in the United States