Firecrackers, parades and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield

Lunar New Year — also commonly called Chinese New Year — marks the start of the new year based on lunar calendars, or monthly cycles of the moon's phases.   The lunar new year starts with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon,

Asian American communities around the U.S. and around the world are ringing in the Year of the Snake Wednesday, including in City. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival,

To welcome the year of the snake, Tet Fest celebrates with authentic food, music and dances. From Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church in the Village de L'Est of New Orleans East, the state's largest Vietnamese community, transforms into a culinary wonderland, offering traditional fare like pandan waffles and pho.

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and the world.

Celebrations vary from culture to culture, but typically on the first day of Lunar New Year people visit the senior members of their extended family. One of the most recognizable celebrations is lion dance troupes, a dramatic tradition meant to usher in the New Year and expel evil spirits.

Over 1 billion people celebrate the holiday, which marks the transition from cold winter to a season of renewal and ushers in one of 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

Cuba’s small Chinese community celebrated the Lunar New Year overnight, ushering in the Year of the Snake with a vibrant parade, glowing lanterns, and dragons winding their way through the narrow streets of Chinatown.