It took a few thousand years of civilized history, a few minutes, and one city block for the snake to yield and the horse to enter.
To kick off the Year of the Horse, a parade with lion dancers and firecrackers made its way through San Francisco's Chinatown neighborhood Friday morning.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was among the attendees.
"It's Lunar New Year," Mayor Lee said. "So you'll be looking at the Korean community, the Vietnamese community, the southeast Asian communities are all celebrating the Lunar New Year."
In the New Year's tradition, this is a time for family and for feasting. Inside the world famous Eastern Bakery, owner Orlando Kuan and his wife can help with that. Ask about his moon cake.
"The moon cake is the highest quality Chinese pastries," he said.
The highest in a tasty line-up that includes radish cake, sesame balls, and New Year sponge cake.
The city's official annual Chinese New Year Parade will take place on Feb. 15.
More information about other upcoming Chinese New Year events in San Francisco can be found online at http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/events/index.html.
(Bay City News contributed to this report)
