The 15th annual Chinese New Year Parade was held in Downtown Fresno on Saturday, celebrating the year of the goat with food, activities, and vibrant music culminating in the mile-long stretch of the popular parade.
Chinese New Year is not only a cultural tradition but a community attraction as well, bringing in people throughout the Fresno community and surrounding area.
Associated with the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac, 2015 is the Year of the Goat, which is also referred to as the year of the ram or sheep.
Numerous vendors came out to participate in the parade, including Leilani Wing-Shimizu, a Fresno artist and photographer who came out to display her pieces of Chinese art.
Wing-Shimizu makes hand-made art cards, including multiple bright colors against an intricate design. She said that some of them contain Japanese silk screen paper and materials that she created in a process that has been a tradition in her family.
“I come from a well-known family of art collectors of Hanford,” Wing-Shimizu said.
Wing-Shimizu said most of her clientele are from the California coastal area such as Monterey, Cambria, Carmel and La Jolla.
Wing-Shimizu said her Chinese heritage inspired her to create art in a tradition her family has taken part in since 1892.
“Apparently, I had an eye for composition, color, design, and I had probably over 400 designs, and I hand-made them personally,” Wing-Shimizu said.
Susette Ishizuka, a Fresno volunteer for the Tzu Chi Foundation, was attracted to the large attendance the parade boasted. She wanted to reach out to the crowd in order to gain more volunteers and spread information about the Tzu Chi Foundation.
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to provide services for the poor. It has four major missionss: charity, medicine, education and humanistic culture. The foundation was established by Dharma Master Cheng Yen in 1966.
“Tzu means compassion and Chi is relief,” said Tom Bogdan, who is also a volunteer for the Tzu Chi Foundation.
Ishizuka, who is one of many volunteers in Fresno, donates her time and effort frequently for people in need. Noticing the diverse crowds who attended the celebration, Ishizuka commented on Tzu Chi’s mission to create a humanistic culture.
“We all have the same heart,” Ishizuka said. “Your blood is red and my blood is also red. We’re no difference here.”