New York city enjoys Chinese Lunar New Year holiday

An American carries his daughter dressed in traditional Chinese clothes on his shoulders to watch performance in Chinatown during the Spring Festival celebration in New York city, the United States, Feb. 9, 2005.

An American girl peeps out from the headpiece used in the lion dance in Chinatown during the Spring Festival celebration in New York city, the United States, Feb. 9, 2005. Tens of thousands of people including Chinese and American people joined the celebration Wednesday. This is the first Chinese lunar new year after the New York State legislated it as a state holiday.

People walk in Chinatown during the Spring Festival celebration in New York city, the United States, Feb. 9, 2005. Tens of thousands of people joined the celebration Wednesday.

People watch lion dance in Chinatown during the Spring Festival celebration in New York city, the United States, Feb. 9, 2005.

Chinese-American councilor Liu Chunyi (R3) gives away red paper bags containing money as a traditional Chinese gift to celebrate the lunar new year in Chinatown during the Spring Festival celebration in New York city, the United States, Feb. 9, 2005.