San Francisco welcomes Snake Year

San Francisco, California has the biggest Chinese community in the US. Families there are getting ready to welcome the Year of the Snake.

If you want to celebrate Spring Festival in the US, come to San Francisco. The holiday spirit can be felt everywhere. Public places are decorated with snake motifs, the animal of the year on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.

The celebration also features a performance in a public library. The audience gets an introduction to Chinese culture. Poetic couplets express best wishes for the new year. People can select the ones they like best.

A salesperson said:"We have prepared many snake-themed goods. They are really beautiful. Customers from many countries like snakes this way. They sell very well, almost sold out."

Daffodils, gladiolus. People come from all around to enjoy the flower fair. Some American kids even wear traditional Chinese clothing. San Francisco has a total population of 800,000 people. Nearly a third are of Chinese origin. They are proud of their roots and their culture, which they are happy to share with the entire city.