A folk artist pauses while waiting for to perform at a temple fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year at Dongyue Temple in Beijing, February 7, 2011. The Lunar New Year began on February 3, and ends on February 17th. starting of the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese zodiac. #

Performers are seen during the "Chingay Parade", a multicultural street performance, Friday February 11, 2011 in Singapore. This parade is part of the Chinese new year celebrations. #

Participants perform a dragon dance during a Chinese New Year celebration in Vina del Mar city, about 121 km (75 miles) northwest of Santiago, Chile on February 3, 2011. #

This photo taken on February 9, 2011 shows thousands of passengers carrying their belongings walking out of a railway station as they return to work after the Lunar New Year holidays in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province. #

People release sky lanterns to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in Pingxi, Taipei County February 12, 2011. Believers gathered to release the sky lanterns as a form of prayer for good luck and blessings. The tradition of releasing lanterns began during the Ching Dynasty when bands of outlaws frequently raided villages, forcing local residents to seek refuge in the mountains. The lanterns were signals used by the village watchmen to inform the refugees that their houses were safe again. #

Haiqi Vargas watches dancers listening to their director before performing the traditional Chinese Lion Dance during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Havana, Cuba on Thursday February 3, 2011. #

Performers form a human pyramid, also known as "dieluohan", on the third day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Baixiang village of Wuhu, Anhui province, February 5, 2011. The local form of human pyramid needs 18 people, including two infants to pile on top, local media reported. #

Villagers stand to form a smiling face in a field to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, during a photo opportunity in Xiluoyin village of Yangqu county, Shanxi province on February 12, 2011. #

A lion dancer looks out from inside his mask awaiting a performance beneath decorative red lanterns at the Temple of the Earth (Ditan Park) on the eve of the Lunar New Year in Beijing, China on February 2, 2011. #

Hundreds of Buddhists rush to place incense sticks in an urn at a local Chinese Buddhist temple on Thursday February 3, 2011 in Singapore. Every year, hundreds of Buddhist believers gather at a temple where they vie to place their joss sticks in an urn at midnight marking an auspicious start to the Chinese lunar new year. #

Dancers of China's Gansu province Opera Ensemble perform during the Dunhuang Melody show at the National Theater in Bucharest, Romania on Friday night, February 11, 2011. The show, which is on a 50 countries tour, is organized to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit which started on February 3. #

Firecrackers go off next to people during a special exhibition event of Yanshui Beehive Rockets Festival, as part of the Chinese Lantern Festival or "Yuan Xiao Jie", in Taipei, Taiwan on February 12, 2011. It is believed by locals that bad luck will go away after one is 'bombed' with beehive firecrackers, a tradition that has evolved into a huge tourist attraction. #

A woman prays for good fortune as she holds burning incense on the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing on February 6, 2011. #

A performer dressed in a rabbit costume shows the gesture of paying a new year call at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Rabbit on February 2, 2011 in Beijing, China. #