Chinese New Year begins on January 26, 2009 according to the Chinese calendar.  This holiday  is celebrated by billions of people throughout the world from China to Vietnam to Australia to Canada.  It is  celebrated with family and friends and with fireworks and feasting.  Each location has its own unique cultural take.  In China, the entire country closes for a week. In San Francisco, the city hosts a month long celebration culminating in the largest parade outside China and in Vietnam the country is bedecked in flowers.  There are also New Year custom’s common to every celebration: lanterns, dragon dances, drums  and floats. Here are some my favorite photos showcasing Chinese New Year celebrations around the world.

1. Fireworks over Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong, China. Photo courtesy of Squidoo.

Fireworks over Hong Kong Harbor

Fireworks over Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong, China

2. Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Photo courtesy of Scazon.

Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

3. Dragon Dance in Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Chem7.

Dragon dance in Malaysia

Dragon dance in Malaysia

4. San Francisco Chinese New Year Spectacular. Photo courtesy of Divine Performing Arts.

Performance by Divine Performing Arts, San Francisco, CA

Performance by Divine Performing Arts, San Francisco, CA

5. Chinese New Year lion’s head for sale in San Francisco, California. Photo courtesy of tinou.

Lions head for sale in San Francisco, CA

Lions head for sale in San Francisco, CA.

6.  Chinese New Year theatrical production at Radio City Music Hall, New York City, New York, Photo courtesy of Divine Performing Arts.

Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York, USA

Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York, USA

7. Lanterns at the Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Jenniferphoon.

Lanterns at the Thean Hou Temple

Glowing lanterns at the Thean Hou Temple.

8. Chinese New Year in Shanghai, China. Photo courtesy of Augapfel.

Supermarket goes red in Shanghai

Supermarket goes red in Shanghai.

9. In the parade in Sydney Australia, Photo courtesy of yewenwi.

Dance in parade in Sydney, Australia

Dancer in parade in Sydney, Australia.

10. Little drummers are surrounded by flowers as they celebrate the New Year festivities in Vietnam (Tet Festival). Photos courtesy of Alex.

Pint size drummers work the big drums in Vietnam

Pint size drummers work the big drums in Vietnam.

There are thousands of other Chinese New Year celebrations of all sizes, from small family dinners to parades, and shows watched by millions. Gung Hay Fat Choy! If you plan to celebrate Chinese New Year in San Francisco, I suggest watching the parade and an early dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Brandy Ho’s.

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2008 Chinese New Year by Min Guo.