Final preparations are being made for the Chinese New Year of 4715, as millions of people across the world prepare to ring in the Year of the Rooster in style.
A boy holding a lantern walks out from a store selling Spring Festival decorations in Haikou, Hainan province, ChinaReuters
Often called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival – the literal translation of the contemporary Chinese name – Chinese New Year will fall on 28 January. New year celebrations are considered to be one of the most important events in Chinese culture, with spectacularly visual and artistic performances and events taking place all over the world. Markets are packed with people buying traditional decorations for their homes and food and drink to be consumed during the festivities.
Municipal workers plant flowers around a model of a rooster made of plants in a public park in downtown Hanoi, VietnamHoang Dinh Nam/AFPZoo owner Manny Tangco shows different kinds of roosters to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at Malabon Zoo, Metro Manila, PhilippinesEzra Acayan/ReutersOwners stand with their roosters during a rooster beauty contest ahead of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year of Rooster in Shunde, Guangdong province, ChinaReutersA nurse takes care of newborn babies wearing Chinese traditional costumes to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the nursery room of Paolo Chokchai 4 Hospital, in Bangkok, ThailandAthit Perawongmetha/ReutersA newborn baby wearing a chicken costume to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Rooster is pictured at the nursery room of Paolo Chokchai 4 Hospital, in Bangkok, ThailandAthit Perawongmetha/ReutersA rescued chicken named Cherry attends a lunch event held by animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to promote vegan meals in the upcoming Year of the Rooster, in Beijing, ChinaJason Lee/ReutersA rescued chicken named Cherry eats vegetables and cakes during a lunch event held by animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to promote vegan meals in the upcoming Year of the Rooster, in Beijing, ChinaJason Lee/ReutersA cook prepares vegetable for a rescued chicken to promote vegan meals in the upcoming Year of the Rooster, in Beijing, ChinaJason Lee/ReutersFarmers working on an orange orchard ahead of Lunar New Year in a village in Rongan, south China's Guangxi provinceAFP/Getty ImagesShoppers browse cherry blossom for sale at Hang Luoc Street Lunar New Year fair, a favourite shopping place for local people in the Old Quartet in Hanoi, VietnamLinh Pham/Getty ImagesShoppers try on Vietnamese traditional dress at Hang Luoc Street Lunar New Year fair, a favourite shopping place for local people in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, VietnamLinh Pham/Getty ImagesSea lion Chen takes part in a calligraphy attraction to paint the Chinese character for Rooster at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo, JapanKazyhurio Nogi/AFP
The celebrations usually begin the day before the new year is called in, and will continue until the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the 15th day of the new year, when the Moon is at its brightest. In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year is associated with an animal sign and one of five elements, which are gold, wood, water, fire, or earth. The upcoming year will be the Year of the Fire Rooster.
Big rooster bronze statues are displayed at a shop at Hang Luoc Street Lunar New Year fair, a favourite shopping place for local people in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, VietnamLinh Pham/Getty ImagesA street vendor sells green bananas and papaya which people put on the family altar for the Lunar New Year, locally known as Tet in downtown Hanoi, as Vietnam prepares to celebrate the holidayHoang Dinh Nam/AFPShoppers browse fruit for Lunar New Year Eve ceremony from a street vendor in Hanoi, VietnamLinh Pham/Getty ImagesA resident wears a mask on the Lunar New Year eve in Manila's Chinatown, the PhilippinesErik De Castro/ReutersStreet cleaners have meal to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival in Xi'an, Shaaxi province, ChinaReutersShoppers browse laterns at Hang Luoc Street Lunar New Year fair, a favourite shopping place for local people in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, VietnamLinh Pham/Getty ImagesA performer takes part in a celebration for the upcoming Chinese New Year at Lisinski Hall in Zagreb, CroatiaAntonio Bronic/Reuters
