The fireworks in China are an ancient New Year tradition
meant to drive away bad luck and scare off evil spirits. Streets were littered
with tattered red paper and cardboard casings from spent
fireworks.
The previous week already saw 'the world's biggest human
migration', as hundreds of millions of Chinese entered trains, planes, buses and
boats to go home for the festivities.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the usually bustling streets
were empty as families gathered for New Year feasts and visited
temples.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, Mickey and Minnie Mouse changed
their usual western clothes for traditional Chinese outfits.
In
Taiwan, worshippers gathered at temples, holding incense sticks and bowing in
the direction of Buddhist and Taoist deities for good luck.
In South
Korea, highways were congested as millions of people began the journey back to
the cities after visiting their hometowns for the New Year.
New York
In New York's
Chinatown in downtown Manhattan, thousands of people went wild in celebration,
firing off a barrage of confetti, dancing in traditional lion costumes and
devouring countless dumplings.
Even Pope Benedict XVI sent his wishes
to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year during his weekly appearance from his
window overlooking St Peter's Square in Rome.
Zodiac
The pig is one of 12
animals (or mythical animals in the case of the dragon) on the 12-year cycle of
the Chinese zodiac, which follows the lunar calendar. According to Chinese
astrology, people born in pig years are polite, honest, hardworking and
loyal.
They are also lucky, which is why hospitals are expecting a
baby boom in the Year of the Pig.
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