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

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,

This year, Lunar New Year begins today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, and ends Feb. 12. Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th century when it gained global recognition through Chinese immigrant communities, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in the lunar calendar.

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.

China ushered in the Year of the Snake at midnight (1600 GMT), as the Chinese New Year began for the country of approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants. The New Year's festival, also known as the Spring Festival,

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, will be celebrated on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. This 16-day Spring Festival is marked by cultural traditions,