More than a billion people across the world, from China to the Philippines to diaspora communities in the United States, began celebrating the Lunar New Year on Tuesday with fireworks, family time and feasts. On Wednesday, the first new moon of the Year of the Snake will mark the imminent arrival of spring.

The bustling city of Bohor, just south of Indonesia's capital, came alive as it welcomed the Lunar New Year with vibrant dragon puppet performances and the rhyt

From narrow side streets to packed malls, the traditional music and dance of dragon puppet performances have filled this bustling city south of Indonesia's capital to usher in the Lunar New Year.

The artistic group ‘Naga Merah Putih’ delighted the public today with a lion and dragon dance performance at a shopping centre in this city of Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. The activity is part of the preparations to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year,

Fireworks, parades and other Lunar New Year rituals are centred around removing bad luck and welcoming prosperity.

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

Lunar New Year traditions vary greatly among countries or territories covered by Radio Free Asia and its affiliate, BenarNews. Most of China’s 1.4 billion people as well as Chinese communities around the world observe the Lunar New Year, known as Chunjie, or Spring Festival.

Communities across the world begin celebrating Lunar New Year on Jan. 29 — and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake.

For skywatchers, the Lunar New Year lines up perfectly with the new moon. According to NASA, the new moon becomes official at 7:36 a.m. Wednesday when it passes between the Earth and the Sun.

The Lunar New Year usually starts sometime between late January and mid-February. This year, the festivities begin on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake. In mainland China, official celebrations last for seven days as a public holiday.

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea, is celebrated in many Asian countries and diaspora communities. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon.

Asian communities across the world prepare to ring in the Lunar New Year each year and 2025 is designated as the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The snake is known for its wisdom, intuition and strategic approach, all qualities that might offer the perfect road map for navigating your financial journey in the year ahead.