Chinese New Year, Luzhou, China

© Liu Guoxing/VCG via Getty Image

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon!. Chinese New Year

Celebrating the first new moon of the lunar calendar, millions worldwide gather to usher in the Lunar New Year, a period marked by vibrant celebrations, rich traditions and family reunions. The festivities, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, end 15 days from now with the Lantern Festival. From envelopes to lanterns, red is the dominant colour, symbolising luck and prosperity. The streets come alive with the rhythm of drums as the dragon dance takes centre stage. This is a bird's-eye view of the dragons—elongated puppets adorned with shimmering scales and animated by a team of dancers. The Lunar New Year is a popular time for families to reunite and is responsible for one of the largest annual human migrations in the world. Did you know that each year is linked to one of the 12 zodiac animals? 2024 heralds the Year of the Dragon, a mighty symbol of nobility, power and success.