Chinese New Year

Year of the Pig

Pedestrians walk past decorations of pigs in Shanghai for Chinese New Year, which occurs Feb. 18. According to the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, the year 2007 marks the Year of the Pig.

Money God

A "Money God" stands in front of a man dressed as a peach blossom at a Chinese New Year event at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, Jan. 30.

Praying at a Temple

Taiwanese visit the Lungshan Temple to pray ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Feb. 7, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Pig Race

Pigs compete during a race at a zoo in Jinan in east China's Shandong province, Feb. 6.

Feast Under the Lanterns

Teachers and workers have a feast under red lanterns during a gala to mark the upcoming Chinese New Year, at the Bashu Middle School in Chongqing Municipality, China, Feb. 2. The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival. Red is the color of this holiday; it symbolizes fire, which the Chinese believe can drive away bad luck.

Fireworks

Local residents watch fireworks in Zhengzhou, in China's central Henan Province, Feb. 5. Beijing citizens are being restricted to a half-hour period to set off fireworks on the eve of the Lunar New Year, Feb. 18. The move is intended to improve safety on the night when Chinese traditionally set off noisy fireworks to scare away evil spirits and ensure good luck in the New Year.

Drummer Boys and Girls

Children perform at a Chinese New Year event at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, Jan. 30.

Lantern Vendor

A vendor makes his way on his bicycle encircled by hand-made lanterns on a street in Chengdu, in Sichuan province, Feb. 5. The Chinese New Year celebration lasts two weeks and ends with a Lantern Festival. According to legend, lanterns once were life-savers.