Despite 5-degree weather Sunday, Chinatown heated up amidst firework explosions at the Chinese New Years Day Parade Sunday. Spectators were buying, selling and igniting poppers that flew into crowds, creating a celebratory, electric experience.

Even an eight-year-old girl was handed the fireworks to participate in the celebration. Although fireworks are illegal throughout the state of Massachusetts, according to a police officer at the scene, Boston Police Department officers engaged in the festivities with the rest of the community.

An officer at the scene said that it is simply not possible to arrest everyone exploding fireworks on Chinese New Year.

“It is illegal,” said the officer. “But what are you going to do, lock everyone up?”

Capt. Bernard O’Rourke, of the Chinatown District, agreed with the other officer and added that in case anything went wrong, the department had paramedics at the parade.

“It’s not apparent who’s setting off the poppers, so we don’t really give anyone a hard time,” O’Rourke said. “We do, however, have an ambulance standing by and several police cars patrolling the area.”

The firecrackers, assembled in a long string, flew about six feet into the air, traveling about three feet in distance.

-Kathleen Roberts and Michael Thill