By — Abbey Oldham Abbey Oldham Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/photos-millions-celebrate-chinese-new-year-year-of-the-fire-rooster Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Photos: Millions celebrate Chinese New Year, year of the Fire Rooster World Jan 30, 2017 10:55 AM EDT Chinese New Year, a celebration that goes by many names across Asia — Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal and Tibetan Losar — kicked off Saturday around the world. Each year, the holiday, also known as the Lunar New Year, begins on the first new moon between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. This year, that day fell on Saturday, Jan. 28. Lunar New Year is the only time many people make the long trek home to see their families, some traveling more than a thousand miles. Hundreds of millions of people are expected to migrate home during the holiday season. Each new year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. They’re also paired with one of five elements: wood, fire, earth and metal. This year will be represented by the Fire Rooster, the first in 60 years. Those born in the year of the rooster are known to be responsible, on time and brave, according to Chinese astrology. The rooster will be followed by the dog in 2018 and the pig in 2019. Participants wear costume as they take part in an event Jan. 29 to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rooster in London, Britain. Photo by: Neil Hall A Lunar New Year celebration Jan. 28 in Chinatown in Manhattan. Photo by: Stephen Yang Coloured chicks for sale are pictured Jan. 28 on the eve of Lunar New Year in Manila’s Chinatown, the Philippines. Photo by: Erik De Castro A street decorated with Chinese lamps to celebrate the Lunar New Year is seen Jan. 25 in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo by: Soe Zeya Tun People burn incense sticks and pray for good fortune Jan. 28 at Yonghegong Lama Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Rooster in Beijing. Photo by: Damir Sagolj People light up incense sticks Jan. 27 in a temple during the Lunar New Year’s eve celebrations, in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Jorge Silva Buddhist monks pray inside a temple during the Lunar New Year eve celebration Jan. 27 in Chinatown Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Jorge Silva A nurse takes care of newborn babies wearing Chinese traditional costumes Jan. 27 to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the nursery room of Paolo Chockchai 4 Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Athit Perawongmetha Young performers put their lion dance costumes as they go onto the stage Jan. 29 at the Longtan park as the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Rooster, is celebrated in Beijing, China. Photo by: Damir Sagolj A reveller blows fire Jan. 28 during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Manila’s Chinatown, Philippines.. Photo by: Ezra Acayan By — Abbey Oldham Abbey Oldham Abbey Oldham is a production assistant for graphics and research at PBS NewsHour. @AbbeyOldham
Chinese New Year, a celebration that goes by many names across Asia — Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal and Tibetan Losar — kicked off Saturday around the world. Each year, the holiday, also known as the Lunar New Year, begins on the first new moon between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. This year, that day fell on Saturday, Jan. 28. Lunar New Year is the only time many people make the long trek home to see their families, some traveling more than a thousand miles. Hundreds of millions of people are expected to migrate home during the holiday season. Each new year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. They’re also paired with one of five elements: wood, fire, earth and metal. This year will be represented by the Fire Rooster, the first in 60 years. Those born in the year of the rooster are known to be responsible, on time and brave, according to Chinese astrology. The rooster will be followed by the dog in 2018 and the pig in 2019. Participants wear costume as they take part in an event Jan. 29 to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rooster in London, Britain. Photo by: Neil Hall A Lunar New Year celebration Jan. 28 in Chinatown in Manhattan. Photo by: Stephen Yang Coloured chicks for sale are pictured Jan. 28 on the eve of Lunar New Year in Manila’s Chinatown, the Philippines. Photo by: Erik De Castro A street decorated with Chinese lamps to celebrate the Lunar New Year is seen Jan. 25 in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo by: Soe Zeya Tun People burn incense sticks and pray for good fortune Jan. 28 at Yonghegong Lama Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Rooster in Beijing. Photo by: Damir Sagolj People light up incense sticks Jan. 27 in a temple during the Lunar New Year’s eve celebrations, in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Jorge Silva Buddhist monks pray inside a temple during the Lunar New Year eve celebration Jan. 27 in Chinatown Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Jorge Silva A nurse takes care of newborn babies wearing Chinese traditional costumes Jan. 27 to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the nursery room of Paolo Chockchai 4 Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Athit Perawongmetha Young performers put their lion dance costumes as they go onto the stage Jan. 29 at the Longtan park as the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Rooster, is celebrated in Beijing, China. Photo by: Damir Sagolj A reveller blows fire Jan. 28 during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Manila’s Chinatown, Philippines.. Photo by: Ezra Acayan