For more than 150 years the Chinese community in Panama conformed by near 3000 Chinese has been celebrating the arrival of a New Year. Every year in the "Barrio Chino" (Chinese District) they celebrate the dance of the Chinese Dragoon, better well-known for them like Leon, is the one that gives to well-being and prosperity to the families. This is one of the most beautiful traditions than they conserve and they wish to share with all the Panamanians. In each business a strap of rockets is placed, in addition to a called plant "Le Si"; when the Dragoon arrives at the door of each business, the owner of the premises ignites the rockets and fireworks. When finishing the explosions the Dragoon eats the plant, that contains money, which this in the threshold of the door, that the gift that the family offers to her God, to have more prosperity. The rockets and the plant mean the purification of the home, and it takes all the bad things of the Old Year, and offers health, well-being and joy to the family in the year that begins.
Series by Central american photographer Teresita ChavarrÃa
