In Pictures: Lunar New Year celebrations

The Year of the Dragon is a popular year to give birth for Chinese people.

Published Feb 10

Last updated Feb 10

People across Asia have welcomed the Lunar New Year with family gatherings, festivals and temple visits to ask for blessings.

The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China, a time for reunions with relatives and friends – and to enjoy festive feasts.

Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, with the 12 months ahead being the Year of the Dragon — widely considered the most auspicious zodiac sign in Asian communities.

The Year of the Dragon is also a popular time to give birth because many Chinese couples hope their children will possess remarkable qualities symbolised by dragons, including strength, power and success.

APTOPIX Lunar New Year Photo Gallery — Malaysian ethnic Chinese pray on the first day of Lunar New Year’s holidays at a temple in Kuala Lumpur (Vincent Thian/AP)

China Lunar New Year — Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle (Andy Wong/AP)

Lunar New Year Photo Gallery — Chinese dragon dancers perform at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing (Andy Wong/AP)

Vietnam Lunar New Year — A man holds up a dragon decoration in a traditional Lunar New Year market in Hanoi, Vietnam (Huy Han/AP)