Ringing in the Year of the Horse: Chinese New Year celebrations

Jan 31, 2014

Ringing in the Year of the Horse: Chinese New Year celebrations

Kalani Gordon 1 Comment Entertainment, World Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, year of the horse

Chinese welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Horse with toned down celebrations on Thursday, as people heeded government pleas to set off fewer of the fireworks believed to bring good fortune, because of concern about air pollution.

Chinese New Year, which begins on Friday, is normally marked by riotous displays of fireworks and countless firecrackers, which are thought to bring good luck and scare off evil spirits.

: Indonesian performers dressed as mermaids wearing traditional Chinese cheongsam dress and a lion perform underwater in a special program celebrating the Lunar New Year at Jakarta’s Ancol park on January 31, 2014. The Lunar New Year of the Horse falls on January 31. (Romeo Gacard/AFP/Getty Images)

: A visitor passes the trees decorated with red lanterns at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park on January 30, 2014 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

: A man watches as fireworks light up the skyline of Shanghai in celebration of Chinese New Year in Shanghai January 31, 2014. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese New Year welcomes the year of the horse, which falls on January 31. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

: People watch firecrackers as they celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year in Beijing early January 31, 2014. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese New Year welcomes the year of the horse on January 31. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

: A worker carries a gigantic joss stick to welcome the Chinese New Year at a temple in Kuala Lumpur early on January 31, 2014. The Lunar New Year Year of the Horse falls on January 31 and marks the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday. (Moho Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images)

: Chinese residents pray and burn incense to welcome the Chinese New Year at a temple in Kuala Lumpur early on January 31, 2014. The Lunar New Year Year of the Horse falls on January 31 and marks the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday. (Moho Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images)

: Fireworks explode in a street of Shanghai on the eve of Chinese New Year on January 30, 2014. China prepares to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Horse which falls on January 31 and will see about 3.62 billion trips made by Chinese travelers during the 40-day Spring Festival travel period. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)

: Fireworks explode in a street of Shanghai on the eve of Chinese New Year on January 30, 2014. China prepares to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Horse which falls on January 31 and will see about 3.62 billion trips made by Chinese travelers during the 40-day Spring Festival travel period. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)

: Worshippers burn incense and pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: Worshippers wait to burn incense and pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: Worshippers burn incense and pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: A woman shops outside a temple where worshippers burn incense and pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: A worshipper looks on as she waits to burn incense and pray at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man walks past an altar at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man bows in front of an altar at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Chinese New Year of the horse in Hong Kong on January 30, 2014. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples across to pray for good luck and fortune for the new year. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

: A lit neon decoration of a horse is pictured at the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen temple on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Jenjarom, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 30, 2014. The Lunar New Year Year of the Horse falls on January 31 and marks the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images)

: Fireworks illuminate the skyline to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse and cause severe air pollution on January 30, 2014 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

: Lanterns hang above the street in China Town on January 30, 2014 in London, England. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse, also known as the Spring Festival, (which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar) is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with the Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

: People hold up joss sticks as they wait to plant the first joss stick of the new year during Chinese New Year Eve at a temple in Singapore January 30, 2014. The Lunar New Year which welcomes the year of the horse falls on Friday. (REUTERS/Edgar Su)

: People rush to plant the first joss stick of the Chinese New Year at the stroke of midnight at a temple in Singapore early January 31, 2014. The Lunar New Year, which welcomes the year of the horse, falls on Friday. (REUTERS/Edgar Su)

: Two kids hold incense sticks as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Satya Dharma Temple on January 31, 2014 in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Thousands gathered today to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images)

: A merchant displays a figurine of a horse in the Chinese district of Binondo on January 31, 2014 in Manila, Philippines. Thousands gathered today to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Wooden Horse, with New Year’s Day which falls on January 31, 2014. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images)

: A lion dance is performed in front of the Chinese restaurant in the Yokohama China Town on January 31, 2014 in Yokohama, Japan. It’s the Lunar New Year and Year of the Horse, Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday and it is celebrated worldwide within Chinese community. (Photo by Keith Tsuji/Getty Images)

: A lion dance is performed in front of the Chinese restaurant in the Yokohama China Town on January 31, 2014 in Yokohama, Japan. It’s the Lunar New Year and Year of the Horse, Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday and it is celebrated worldwide within Chinese community. (Photo by Keith Tsuji/Getty Images)

: A lion dance is performed in front of the Chinese restaurant in the Yokohama China Town on January 31, 2014 in Yokohama, Japan. It’s the Lunar New Year and Year of the Horse, Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday and it is celebrated worldwide within Chinese community. (Photo by Keith Tsuji/Getty Images)

: People take a rest at a park during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Bun San Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese today are celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: People take a rest at a park during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Bun San Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese today are celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: Incense sticks are placed during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Bun San Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese today are celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: People take a rest at a park during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Bun San Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese today are celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: People make offerings to the gods during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Bun San Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese today are celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: A man holds votive paper and burns it as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Bun San Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian Chinese today are celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: People hold incense sticks as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The Horse at Boen Tek Bio Temple on January 31, 2014 in Tangerang, Indonesia. Indonesian chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year today and welcome the Year of the Horse, with new year’s day falling on January 31st. Chinese new Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia. (Photo by Oscar Siagian/Getty Images)

: Chinese performers take part in a traditional Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good fortune, during Lunar New Year festivities at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on January 31, 2014. China welcomed in the Year of the Horse which sees about 3.62 billion trips made by Chinese travelers during the 40-day Spring Festival travel period. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

: Folk artistes on stilts dance during a folk art performance to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Festival on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing January 31, 2014. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

: Dancers perform a fire dragon dance in the shower of molten iron spewing firework-like sparks during a folk art performance to celebrate traditional Chinese Spring Festival on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing January 31, 2014. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

: Dancers perform a fire dragon dance in the shower of molten iron spewing firework-like sparks during a folk art performance to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Festival on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing January 31, 2014. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

: A man prays for good fortune while holding incense on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Petak Sembilan Temple in Jakarta January 31, 2014. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year, which welcomes the year of the horse, falls on January 31. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)

: Filipino-Chinese people perform a dragon and lion dance during the Chinese New Year celebration in Manila’s Chinatown January 31, 2014. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year, which welcomes the year of the horse, falls on January 31 this year. (REUTERS/Erik De Castro)

: A man covers his ears after setting off firecrackers to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year in Beijing early January 31, 2014. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese New Year welcomes the year of the horse on January 31. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

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