Firecrackers, parades and prayers marked the Lunar New Year as millions around Asia and farther afield celebrated

Asian American communities around the U.S. and around the world are ringing in the Year of the Snake Wednesday, including in New York City. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival,

From Beijing to Hanoi and Moscow, the holiday — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world. Wednesday marks the start of the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

Among China’s traditional holidays and celebrations, none ranks higher in importance than the Lunar New Year (農曆新年). Also known as the Spring Festival (春節), or simply Chinese New Year, it marks the beginning of the year according to the traditional lunar calendar.

Beijing was gearing up on Friday to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The Chinese Lunar New Year, also called 'Spring Festival', will fall on 29 January 2025, which is the Year of the Snake. Camera: WU HAO.

Lion dance is performed at a park in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2025, the first day of the Year of the Snake amid Lunar Year celebrations.