The Year of the Horse

The Year of the Horse

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For many Chinese people, it is their only holiday of the year, a riotous display of fireworks that are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the new year.

But this Chinese New Year the government asked residents to tone down celebrations, which fill the sky with smoke for hours, because of concerns about air pollution. While many heeded the government's call for restraint, China still rang in the Year of the Horse with a bang.

. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Li Sheng, an office worker, displays a new tattoo inspired by the lunar new year. The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals that are supposed to interact with the five elements of earth, water, fire, wood and metal, which are believed to define the mood and direction of the world.

Practitioners of the ancient art of feng shui have predicted that the Year of the Horse may bring conflicts and disasters related to fire, but strong gains in stocks linked to wood, the year's two dominant elements.

. Singapore, Singapore. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Celebrated by many throughout the region, the Chinese New Year also marks the largest mass migration in the world, as hundreds of millions of workers pack trains, buses, aircraft and boats to spend the holiday with their families.

Here in a Singapore temple, people rush to plant the first joss stick of the year at the stroke of midnight.

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A giant lantern depicting a horse is seen among Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden, in downtown Shanghai.
. SHANGHAI, China. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

A giant lantern depicting a horse is seen among Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden, in downtown Shanghai.

Lanterns are hung in a Chinese temple ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur.
. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. REUTERS/Samsul Said

Lanterns are hung in a Chinese temple ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur.

A man prays as people hold incense sticks at the Old City God Temple in Shanghai.
. Shanghai, China. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

A man prays as people hold incense sticks at the Old City God Temple in Shanghai.

A child holds up joss sticks on Chinese New Year's Eve at a temple in Singapore.
. Singapore, Singapore. REUTERS/Edgar Su

A child holds up joss sticks on Chinese New Year's Eve at a temple in Singapore.

A man prays for good fortune while holding a bunch of incense sticks.
. JAKARTA, Indonesia. REUTERS/Beawiharta

A man prays for good fortune while holding a bunch of incense sticks.

People burn incense for good fortune at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing.
. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

People burn incense for good fortune at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing.

A man sets off fireworks as residents celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year in Shanghai.
. Shanghai, China. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

A man sets off fireworks as residents celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year in Shanghai.

People watch firecrackers explode.
. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

People watch firecrackers explode.

A man covers his ears after setting off firecrackers.
. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

A man covers his ears after setting off firecrackers.

A performer takes part in the re-enactment of the ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune, at Ditan Park in Beijing.
. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

A performer takes part in the re-enactment of the ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune, at Ditan Park in Beijing.

Tibetan monks take part in a New Year ceremony on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple.
. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Tibetan monks take part in a New Year ceremony on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple.

Fireworks explode amid heavy smog during celebrations in central Beijing.
. BEIJING, China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Fireworks explode amid heavy smog during celebrations in central Beijing.