Bullit Marquez, The Associated PressA fire-eater performs on the street in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 in Manila's Chinatown district, Philippines. This year is the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar.
Ye Aung Thu, AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of a dragon dance troupe take part in celebrations marking the first day of the Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown district on Feb. 16, 2018. The 2018 Lunar New Year fell on February 16 across much of Asia, marking the start of the Year of the Dog.
Bullit Marquez, The Associated PressA fire-eater performs on the street in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at Manila's Chinatown district, Philippines. This year is the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Vincent Yu, The Associated PressPerformers take part in a night parade to celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. The Lunar New Year this year marks the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar.
Vincent Yu, The Associated PressA performer takes part in a night parade to celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. The Lunar New Year this year marks the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar.
Francisco Seco, The Associated PressMartial arts young students performance on the stage during celebrations on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Madrid, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Chinese around the world celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dog on Friday with family reunions, firecrackers and traditional food.
Drew Angerer, Getty ImagesDancers perform during a cultural festival to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown neighborhood in Manhattan, Feb. 16, 2018 in New York City. The 2018 Chinese New Year, which is the year of the dog, begins on Friday and celebrations will last for over two weeks.
Drew Angerer, Getty ImagesA young girl plugs her ears as the firecracker ceremony begins at a cultural festival to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown neighborhood in Manhattan, Feb. 16, 2018 in New York City. The 2018 Chinese New Year, which is the year of the dog, begins on Friday and celebrations will last for over two weeks.
Drew Angerer, Getty ImagesA man dressed as a dragon makes his way through Chinatown during a cultural festival to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year, Feb. 16, 2018 in New York City. The 2018 Chinese New Year, which is the year of the dog, begins on Friday and celebrations will last for over two weeks.
Drew Angerer, Getty ImagesA dragon dance is performed during a cultural festival to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown neighborhood in Manhattan, Feb. 16, 2018 in New York City. The 2018 Chinese New Year, which is the year of the dog, begins on Friday and celebrations will last for over two weeks.
Manan Vatsyayana, AFP/Getty ImagesEthnic Malaysian-Chinese devotees arrive to offer prayers at the Thean Hou temple decorated with red lanterns in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 15, 2018 on the eve of the Lunar New Year marking the start of the year of the dog.
Drew Angerer, Getty ImagesA woman pops confetti during a cultural festival to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Chinatown neighborhood in Manhattan, Feb. 16, 2018 in New York City. The 2018 Chinese New Year, which is the year of the dog, begins on Friday and celebrations will last for over two weeks.
Tang Chhin Sothy, AFP/Getty ImagesCambodian-Chinese pray at a temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Kandal on Feb. 16, 2018. While not a holiday in Cambodia, the Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in China and a number of countries in east and southeast Asia, began on February 16 welcoming in the "Year of the Dog".
Tang Chhin Sothy, AFP/Getty ImagesTOPSHOT - Cambodian-Chinese place various sizes of incense sticks into an urn at a temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Kandal on Feb. 16, 2018. While not a holiday in Cambodia, the Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in China and a number of countries in east and southeast Asia, began on February 16 welcoming in the "Year of the Dog".
Ye Aung Thu, AFP/Getty ImagesA woman holds balloons during celebrations marking the first day of the Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown district on Feb. 16, 2018. The 2018 Lunar New Year fell on February 16 across much of Asia, marking the start of the Year of the Dog.
Anthony Wallace, AFP/Getty ImagesPerformers take part in a street parade to mark the Lunar New Year celebrations for the Year of the Dog in Hong Kong on Feb. 16, 2018.
Johannes Eisele, AFP/Getty ImagesPeople pray with incense sticks to celebrate the Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Dog, at the Longhua temple in Shanghai early Feb. 16, 2018. The Lunar New Year falls on February 16 this year, with celebrations in China scheduled to last for a week.
Timur Matahari, AFP/Getty ImagesA woman lights a candle at a Chinese temple to mark the Lunar New Year in Bandung, West Java province, on Feb. 16, 2018. The 2018 Lunar New Year fell on February 16 across much of Asia, marking the start of the Year of the Dog.
Eric Risberg, The Associated PressA dragon procession makes its way down Clay Street during a Chinese New Year parade and celebration Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in San Francisco. The Year of the Dog begins Friday as the Year of the Rooster comes to an end.
Bullit Marquez, The Associated Press
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A fire-eater performs on the street in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 in Manila's Chinatown district, Philippines. This year is the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar.
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
BEIJING — People in Asia and around the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year on Friday with festivals, parades and temple visits to ask for blessings. This year marks the year of the dog, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese astrological chart. People in Beijing celebrated with family feasts and visits to bustling temple fairs amid the mid-winter chill.
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