Lunar New Year Celebrates Arrival of Year of the Snake

Shop assistants hold stuffed snake toys ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at Victoria Park in Hong Kong February 4, 2013. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. Picture taken February 4, 2013. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

A snake lantern is seen among other Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden, in downtown Shanghai February 4, 2013. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. Picture taken February 4, 2013. (Photo by Carlos Barria/Reuters)

A dish created in the shape of a snake is presented on a table as residents stand around, during an annual local celebration for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Wuhan, Hubei province, February 4, 2013. In a celebration that has been held for some 13 years, community members cooked more than 8000 dishes as new year gifts for their elderly and needy neighbours, The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. Picture taken February 4, 2013. (Photo by Darley Shen/Reuters)

A snake lantern is seen among other Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai February 4, 2013. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. Picture taken February 4, 2013. (Photo by Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Chinese artists perform the lion dance during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at Ditan Park (the Temple of Earth), in Beijing, February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A mother holding her child poses for a photo next to a snake sculpture at a temple fair to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Ditan Park (the Temple of Earth), in Beijing, February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A shop owner wears a snake-shaped ballon on his head in order to attract customers during the temple fair in Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Visitors stroll by trees decorated with red lanterns for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations on February, 10, at Ditan Park in Beijing. (Photo by Andy Wong/Associated Press)

Chinese artists perform the lion dance during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at Ditan Park (the Temple of Earth), in Beijing, February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Security guards walk towards a snake sculpture as they gather for a security task of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at Ditan Park (the Temple of Earth), in Beijing, February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Snake toys are displayed for sale at a temple fair to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Ditan Park (the Temple of Earth), in Beijing, February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A performer dressed as a Qing dynasty emperor bows while he prays in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony, in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune, during the temple fair at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

People watch Chinese folk artists on stilts during their performance at Longtan Park in Beijing February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Dancers perform to вЂњGangnam StyleвЂќ during the temple fair in Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

A girl performs an acrobatic show during the temple fair in Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing February 9, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Chinese paramilitary police officers dressed as Qing Dynasty servants before a re-enactment of an ancient ceremony of Qing Dynasty emperors praying for good harvest and fortune during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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)

The vendors show the toy of snake at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake at the Temple of Earth park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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)

Chinese folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at Dragon Lake Park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China.The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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 Lintao Zhang)

A vendor shows the toy of snake at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake at the Temple of Earth park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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)

A vendor shows the toy of hammer with Chinese characters 'Defend the Diaoyu Islands ' at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake at the Temple of Earth park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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)

Chinese folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at Dragon Lake Park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China.The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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 Lintao Zhang)

Chinese paramilitary police officers dressed as Qing Dynasty servants before a re-enactment of an ancient ceremony of Qing Dynasty emperors praying for good harvest and fortune during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake 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)

This picture taken on February 6, 2013 shows an actress performing with a snake to celebrate the coming lunar new year of China in Hetian, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The lunar new year, or spring festival, falls on February 10. (Photo by China Press/AFP Photo)