By a Falun Gong Practitioner in Philadelphia

(Clearwisdom.net) The 105^th Philadelphia Mummers New Year's Parade launched the new year on January 1, 2006. It was the fourth time that Falun Gong practitioners in Philadelphia were invited to participate. Once again, they brought the beauty of Falun Dafa to the American audience.

With more than one hundred years of history, the Mummers New Year's Parade has become a unique way of celebrating New Year's. Fifteen thousand parade participants in costumes or masks and floats with different themes marched on Broadway from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A banner states "Falun Dafa Is Great!"

Peaceful Falun Gong exercise demonstration

Falun Gong held banners reading, "Truth, Compassion, Tolerance", "The World Needs Truth, Compassion and Tolerance" and "Falun Dafa Is Great." They performed a dragon dance, lion dance, fan dance, portrayed a big head doll and Monkey King Sun Wukong, and demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. Parade spectators kept cheering for them. Many Chinese-Americans were happy to see the only ethnic Chinese group in the parade and were proud to see Falun Gong bringing the peace and beauty of Chinese culture to mainstream American society. A Chinese-American lady said, "It is the most beautiful performance I have seen today!"

Parade spectators cheer the dragon dance, lion dance, fan dance, Monkey King Sun Wukong and big head doll.

Parade spectators cheer the dragon dance, lion dance, fan dance and Monkey King Sun Wukong

Using speakers, Falun Gong practitioners spoke to the spectators about Falun Gong, traditional Chinese culture and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. An American man said "How are you?" to this reporter in standard Chinese. He said, "I have been to China many times. Beijing, Shanghai...I like Chinese culture. I also treasure our freedom in the United States, which doesn't exist in China."

Reporter of WB17 interviews Falun Gong practitioner

ABC records the Falun Gong practitioners' performance

A young practitioner who did the dragon dance was interviewed by WB17. He said, "We are all Falun Gong practitioners. I am very happy to bring Chinese culture to an American audience. The dragon dance is hard work. Chinese dragons are different from American dragons. They stand for good fortune. They will bring you good fortune and happiness." This practitioner started doing dragon dances three years ago.

WB17 did a live broadcast of the whole parade. When introducing Falun Gong, the host thanked the Falun Gong practitioners for their years of effort of introducing the colorful traditional Chinese culture to Americans.

It is a tradition for many Americans to participate in the Mummers New Year's Parade. A man dressed in a Chinese costume from the Qing Dynasty led the parade procession. He said, "I started participating in this parade at the age of three. This is my thirty-third year." A huge Chinese character for "Peace" stood out on the float. Traditional Chinese culture has won over more and more people's hearts.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/1/5/118074.html