Photos: Celebrating the Lunar New Year around the world

Beijing. Dancers perform a fire dragon dance in the shower of molten iron sparks during a folk art performance on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, at the Happy Valley amusement park, Jan. 31, 2014. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Singapore. Revelers take photos of themselves during Chinese New Year celebrations ahead of the new year at Marina Bay, Jan. 29, 2014. Edgar Su/Reuters

Beijing. Performers dress in traditional costumes at a park fair, Jan. 30, 2014. The Year of the Horse, according to the symbol of the 12 year cycle of animals, begins on Jan. 31st. Diego Azubel/EPA

Manila, Philippines. A performer blows fire during the Chinese New Year celebration in Manila's Chinatown on Jan. 31, 2014. Erik De Castro/Reuters

London. The London Eye is lit in red and gold to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Jan. 30, 2014. Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. People burn incense sticks and pray to mark the Lunar New Year at the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, Jan. 30, 2014. Thousands of people gathered at the temple to celebrate the beginning of the new year. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press/AP

Singapore. Divers perform a dragon dance as they "bless" the shipwreck habitat of the S.E.A. Aquarium as part of the festive Chinese New Year celebrations in Sentosa, Singapore, Jan. 30, 2014. Edgar Su/Reuters

New Taipei City, Taiwan. Buddhist monks hit a giant bell at the Dharma Drum Mountain monastery in Jiinshan District, New Taipei City, Jan. 30, 2014. The bronze bell, 4.5 meters tall, weighs 25 tons and is inscribed with The Lotus Sutra. Dharma Drum Mountain Monastery/EPA

Imjingak, Paju, South Korea. A family bows as they conduct a memorial ceremony for relatives in North Korea, near the Freedom Bridge at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at Imjingak, Paju, Jan. 31, 2014. Many South Korean families with members originating from the North visit the DMZ during the Lunar New Year holiday to send symbolic offerings to relatives thought to still be there. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images

Makassar, Indonesia. An elderly woman waits for customers at her shop that sells Chinese New Year decorations in Makassar, Indonesia, Jan. 30, 2014. Ethnic Chinese communities in the world's most populous Muslim country are celebrating the start of the year of the horse. Masyudi S. Firmansyah/AP

Manila, Philippines. Firecrackers explode as dragon and lion dancers perform in front of a grocery store in celebration of Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district of Binondo, Philippines, Jan. 31, 2014. Bullit Marquez/AP

Beijing. A visitor passes trees decorated with red lanterns at the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park on Jan. 30, 2014 in Beijing, China. Feng Li/Getty Images