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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Abbie Meehan

Edinburgh locals celebrate Chinese New Year with colourful Royal Mile parade

A Chinese New Year parade made its way through Edinburgh on Sunday evening, as thousands across Scotland celebrated the annual event at the end of January.

Also known as the Lunar New Year, the festival celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional solar Chinese calendar.

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Captured on social media site Snapchat, colourful dragon sculptures held up by sticks and carried by partygoers travelled through the centre of the road, with people clapping and singing along to the music in the background.

The bright pink and purple dragons, essential to the Chinese culture, are followed by many people dressed in traditional clothing for the time of year, banging on drums and singing.

The motion of the dragons dancing in sync. (Snapchat)

Tourists and locals alike join in with the parade, following the brightly coloured leaders to the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

In the Chinese culture, the dragon represents good luck, strength, health and also the male element Yang.

The dragon is unique because it is the only mythical creature of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac and babies are born in the year of the dragon more than any other animal.

The back end of the fabulous pink dragon in Edinburgh. (Snapchat)

Chinese dragon dances are performed during festive occasions as a means to chase away evil spirits and welcome in prosperous times.

This wasn't the only Chinese New Year news at Edinburgh Live, however, as the capital was awoken with loud bangs from all around the city as Edinburgh locals brought in Chinese New Year with a bang celebrating by setting off fireworks.

Revellers across the city set off fireworks as they welcomed the beginning of a new lunar year despite the wild weather brought on by Storm Corrie.

The storm brought 70mph winds that battered the city but the bright illuminations still lit up the sky and could be heard across Edinburgh which was the talk amongst locals online last night.

Many wondered what the occasion was for the fireworks and the reason was Chinese New Year. Traditionally the pretty pyrotechnics are set off to scare away evil spirits and signal the start of a safe and prosperous new year.

For more information on the importance of celebrating the Chinese New Year, check it out here.

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