Across the world, hundreds of millions of people are welcoming the Year of the Snake as they celebrate the Lunar New Year with fireworks, family time and festive dances. In north and Southeast Asia, from China to Indonesia,

From public parades to traditional dances, here's how countries around the world are celebrating the Year of the Snake.

A boy jumps to touch red lanterns hung on trees at the Ditan Park ahead of Lunar New Year in Beijing on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) People offer prayers at the Baiyun Taoist Temple ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing,

The selection was curated by AP photo editor Jon Orbach, based in Mexico City. Follow AP visual journalism:

Lunar New Year is one of the biggest celebrations of the year for those of Asian heritage, involving family gatherings, lion dances, fireworks and for children, the exchange of red envelopes stuffed with cash.

On January 1, 2025, in San Julián, Bolivia, @shunny_liz shared a video of a stray firework entering her house during New Year’s celebrations. The video shows the author and her family enjoying the festivities when suddenly,

People march with a dragon puppet during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in La Paz, Bolivia, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

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State President Luong Cuong offered incense in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh at House 67, within the relic site dedicated to him in the Presidential Palace on January 29 (the first day of the first lunar month) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered incense in tribute to late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at his residence in Hanoi on January 27 evening on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) and the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3,

Firecrackers, parades and prayers marked the Lunar New Year as millions around Asia and farther afield celebrated

Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China and many other Asian communities. Every year is marked by a different animal and 2025 is the Year of the Snake.