It's time for Chinese New Year 2017 and people across the globe from the Chinese community welcomed the Year of Rooster on Saturday and bid good-bye to the Year of Monkey with traditional dragon dance, lion dance and countless firecrackers. The celebrations for the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, will last until February 15.
Over the next two weeks, millions are expected to attend the festival across the world. In this festival, the colour red is considered to be very essential in this celebration as it is said to scare off the mythical monster Nian.
People clean their houses and decorate them with beautiful lights and lanterns. They also visit their friends and relatives to enjoy the new year together. Children are traditionally given red envelopes with money inside which they sleep with under their pillows. It is said to bring good fortune and happiness in their lives.