Chinese New Year 2013

The Chinese have bid adieu to the Year of the Dragon and gracefully welcomed the Year of the Snake. The Chinese New Year 2013 has been enthusiastically celebrated across the world, to mark the arrival of the Water Snake - which Chinese astrology considers powerful and associated with the notion of Karma.

Chinese nationals and believers in Chinese mythology displayed their deep attachment to the traditional values with a wonderful welcome to the New Year, no matter which part of world they were in. Spectacular celebrations filled with colours were seen in countries including Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Mexico and India. Night skies were lit on Saturday with the continuous bursting of firecrackers, to bring good fortune. The celebrations continued until the early hours of Sunday morning.