Today marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year 2012, the Year of the Dragon. One of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, the dragon signifies good fortune and power. In the Chinese astrological cycle, this year is also associated with the element of water, which makes 2012 the Year of the Water Dragon -- an emblem of optimism and growth that comes around only once every 60 years. People around the world are ushering in this auspicious year with displays of fireworks, family get-togethers, temple visits, and street festivals. Collected below are images from several countries where revelers have been welcoming the arrival of the Water Dragon.
Chinese Lunar New Year 2012
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A performer breaths fire during a dragon dance performance in celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district, on January 23, 2012 in the Philippines. #
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Nicasio Leong Magdaraog puts some finishing touches on the head of a dragon for the start of celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, on January 20, 2012 in Manila's Chinatown district, Philippines. #
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An actor wearing traditional costume takes part in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune as part of the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing, on January 22, 2012. #
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A performer reaches out for the gift being dangled from a supermarket during a dragon dance performance in celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district, on January 23, 2012 in the Philippines. #
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South Korean army soldiers bow to respect for their ancestors as they celebrate Lunar New Year at their base near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Cheorwon, South Korea, on January 23, 2012. #
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Young Chinese performers dressed in dragon costumes prepare to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Dragon on January 22, 2012 in Beijing, China. #
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A man holds oil bottles as offerings as he prays during the first day of the Lunar New Year at Dharma Bhakti temple in Jakarta, on January 23, 2012. The Lunar New Year begins on January 23 and marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese zodiac. #
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A Chinese man attaches a blessing tablet with his wishes for the new year on the first day of the "Year of the Dragon", at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. #
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A performer dressed in traditional costume and wearing makeup drinks tea as he and others prepare to take part in Chinese new year celebrations at the 700-year-old Dongyue Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. The temple is the largest of its kind in northern China for the Zhengyi school of Taoism, and was originally built by Taoist monks in the 14th century. #
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Kelly Hoang and her son Scott Hoang play with sparklers outside a temple in Chinatown, on January 22, 2011 in Singapore. Thousands of people converged on Chinatown to usher in the Year of the Water Dragon. For the Chinese, The Year of the Water Dragon is said to bring abundance, and good fortune. #
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A performer warms her ears with her hands as she takes part in the opening ceremony of a Spring Festival Temple Fair to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Longtan Park in Beijing, on January 22, 2012. #
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Temple fair performers with cartoon-dragon-shaped balloon costumes rehearse for upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of the dragon, near a roadside decoration showing Chinese character "spring" in Beijing, China, on January 22, 2012. #
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An illuminated LED dragon is seen at the 2012 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong Kong, on January 23, 2012. The parade featured illuminated floats accompanied by local and international performing groups which entertained both locals and tourists alike on Chinese Lunar New Year. #
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A Chinese woman lights joss sticks to pray for prosperity and well being on the first day of the "Year of the Dragon", at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. #
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