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World

In photos: Billions welcome in Lunar New Year

Updated 12:06 PM EST, Sat January 25, 2020
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People burn joss sticks as they pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong on Saturday, January 25.
In photos: Billions welcome in Lunar New Year
People burn joss sticks as they pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong on Saturday, January 25.
Achmad Ibrahim/AP

Updated 1706 GMT (0106 HKT) January 25, 2020

The Lunar New Year, a 15-day festival that celebrates the beginning of the lunar calendar across Asia, starts on Saturday, January 25, this year. It is celebrated during the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually between January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian calendar.

For many Chinese, it is a once-a-year chance to share a meal and carry bags of gifts from the cities to families back home. This year, it's expected that 3 billion journeys will be made during chunyun, or spring rush -- the 40-day period from January 9 to February 18 when people travel for Lunar New Year. Of those journeys, 440 million will be made by rail. Some 79 million travelers will head home by air, but most travel by car and motorcycle.

Family reunions are made more challenging as the journeys are often peppered with adverse weather; however, this year the rapid spread of the Wuhan coronavirus is what concerns most officials. Authorities in Beijing have canceled all large-scale Chinese New Year celebrations in an effort to contain the growing spread of Wuhan coronavirus.

Still, many around the globe will partake in traditions including visiting family, giving cash in a red envelope, called a "hongbao," watching fireworks displays, and attending lantern festivals.

A woman lights a candle at a temple in Kolkata, India, on January 25.
A woman lights a candle at a temple in Kolkata, India, on January 25.
Bikas Das/AP
Members of the Chinese community dance at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on January 25.
Members of the Chinese community dance at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on January 25.
Michel Euler/AP
A man lights candles during midnight Lunar New Year celebrations at Dharma Ramsi Temple in Bandung, Indonesia, on January 25.
A man lights candles during midnight Lunar New Year celebrations at Dharma Ramsi Temple in Bandung, Indonesia, on January 25.
Algi Febri Sugita/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
People watch the fireworks display in front of the Imperial City of Hue to mark the Lunar New Year or Tet celebrations in Hue, Vietnam.
People watch the fireworks display in front of the Imperial City of Hue to mark the Lunar New Year or Tet celebrations in Hue, Vietnam.
Linh Pham/Getty Images
Temple-goers take pictures at Seng Guan Temple on the eve of the Chinese New Year on Friday, January 24, in Manila, Philippines.
Temple-goers take pictures at Seng Guan Temple on the eve of the Chinese New Year on Friday, January 24, in Manila, Philippines.
Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
A man burns incense sticks as during Lunar New Year's Eve celebrations at Fuk Ling Miau in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
A man burns incense sticks as during Lunar New Year's Eve celebrations at Fuk Ling Miau in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Chinese passengers, most wearing masks, prepare to board trains in Beijing on Thursday, January 23, before the annual Lunar New Year Spring Festival.
Chinese passengers, most wearing masks, prepare to board trains in Beijing on Thursday, January 23, before the annual Lunar New Year Spring Festival.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
A pedestrian takes a photograph with her cellphone in front of a Lunar New Year decoration at a shopping mall in Hong Kong.
A pedestrian takes a photograph with her cellphone in front of a Lunar New Year decoration at a shopping mall in Hong Kong.
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Barricades block access to the closed Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan in Hubei province, on Thursday, January 23. The station was closed in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the coronavirus amid the Lunar New Year travel rush.
Barricades block access to the closed Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan in Hubei province, on Thursday, January 23. The station was closed in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the coronavirus amid the Lunar New Year travel rush.
Chinatopix/AP
A worker arranges lanterns in preparation of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at Maitreya temple in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The Chinese communities in the world's most populous Muslim country are gearing up to celebrate the start of the year of the rat.
A worker arranges lanterns in preparation of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at Maitreya temple in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The Chinese communities in the world's most populous Muslim country are gearing up to celebrate the start of the year of the rat.
Binsar Bakkara/AP
Swarms of travelers wait for transport at the Hongqiao high-speed railway station in Shanghai on Wednesday, January 22.
Swarms of travelers wait for transport at the Hongqiao high-speed railway station in Shanghai on Wednesday, January 22.
Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Dumbo rats are displayed ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at the Singapore Zoo's Rainforest KidzWorld in Singapore on Tuesday, January 21. 2020 marks the year of the rat.
Dumbo rats are displayed ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at the Singapore Zoo's Rainforest KidzWorld in Singapore on Tuesday, January 21. 2020 marks the year of the rat.
Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images
A man prepares carp in clay pots to cook in Ha Nam province on Tuesday, January 21. The braised fish is a popular delicacy for the Lunar New Year, or Tet season, in northern Vietnam.
A man prepares carp in clay pots to cook in Ha Nam province on Tuesday, January 21. The braised fish is a popular delicacy for the Lunar New Year, or Tet season, in northern Vietnam.
Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images
Passengers navigate Beijing Daxing International Airport on Monday, January 20.
Passengers navigate Beijing Daxing International Airport on Monday, January 20.
Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images
Rat-themed decoration items hang for sale in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Monday, January 20.
Rat-themed decoration items hang for sale in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Monday, January 20.
Kham/Reuters
A colorful parade takes placed during Grebeg Sudiro festival on Sunday, January 19, in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia. The festival is held as a prelude to the Chinese New Year.
A colorful parade takes placed during Grebeg Sudiro festival on Sunday, January 19, in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia. The festival is held as a prelude to the Chinese New Year.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Folk artists perform a dragon dance in Langzhong, in China's Sichuan province, on Saturday, January 18.
Folk artists perform a dragon dance in Langzhong, in China's Sichuan province, on Saturday, January 18.
Jiang Hongjing/Xinhua/Zuma Wire
Children hold  lanterns while taking part in a parade beginning the Chinese New Year celebrations in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday, January 18.
Children hold lanterns while taking part in a parade beginning the Chinese New Year celebrations in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday, January 18.
Armando Franca/AP
A performer wearing a traditional Chinese costume attends festivities in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday, January 18.
A performer wearing a traditional Chinese costume attends festivities in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday, January 18.
Andrej Cukic/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lanterns are illuminated during a show on Qingxiu mountain in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Friday, January 17.
Lanterns are illuminated during a show on Qingxiu mountain in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Friday, January 17.
Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua/Getty Images
Panda cubs play next to Lunar New Year decorations at the Shenshuping breeding base of the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Wenchuan, Sichuan province, on Friday, January 17.
Panda cubs play next to Lunar New Year decorations at the Shenshuping breeding base of the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Wenchuan, Sichuan province, on Friday, January 17.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
A worker decorates giant incense sticks at a factory in Kubang Semang, in western Malaysia, on Friday, January 17.
A worker decorates giant incense sticks at a factory in Kubang Semang, in western Malaysia, on Friday, January 17.
Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images
Chinese performers rehearse before a folk art performance at El Gomhoria Theatre in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, January 16.
Chinese performers rehearse before a folk art performance at El Gomhoria Theatre in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, January 16.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters
A child jumps to touch lanterns hung on a tree in Beijing on Thursday, January 16.
A child jumps to touch lanterns hung on a tree in Beijing on Thursday, January 16.
Ng Han Guan/AP
Chinese passengers wait with their luggage prior to boarding trains ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at the Beijing Railway Station, on Friday, January 10.
Chinese passengers wait with their luggage prior to boarding trains ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at the Beijing Railway Station, on Friday, January 10.
Roman Pilipey/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Chinese passengers hold a banner next to their luggage in front of the Beijing Railway Station on Friday, January 10.
Chinese passengers hold a banner next to their luggage in front of the Beijing Railway Station on Friday, January 10.
Roman Pilipey/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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