From Beijing to Hanoi and Moscow, the holiday — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world. Wednesday marks the start of the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in Asian societies of the world that were within dynastic China's sphere of influence, or have large Chinese populations. It's why South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore celebrate, but Japan does not. The day before the first new moon of the year is like Thanksgiving.

This year, Lunar New Year begins today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, and ends Feb. 12. Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th century when it gained global recognition through Chinese immigrant communities, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in the lunar calendar.

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a 15-day festival that begins today, Jan. 29.

Firecrackers, parades and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield

Over 1 billion people celebrate the holiday, which marks the transition from cold winter to a season of renewal and ushers in one of 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world's biggest annual movement of humanity.

Millions of pipo across Asia and di world dey celebrate di Lunar New Year wey dey happun during di first new moon of di lunar calendar. Na one important event in di year for many in Asia and some Asian communities worldwide,