Celebrating Chinese New Year 2020

Today, January 25, 2020 (Saturday) is Chinese New Year, the very first day of a new lunar year. This new year ushers in the Year of the Rat, the first of the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calender. This year it is a Metal Rat.

I would like to wish everyone celebrating this auspicious occasion a Happy & Prosperous Chinese New Year, as it is normally referred to here in this part of the world. Elsewhere it is also referred to as the Lunar New Year Festival or more commonly known as the Spring Festival in China.

Source: 123greetings
The Chinese community around the world celebrates this traditional festival which runs for 15 days ending on 15th day known as the Lantern Festival in China and over here it's referred to as Chap Goh Meh in the Minan or Teochew dialects.

Let's take a look at how some people are celebrating around the world this year, 2020.

Indonesian children carry lanterns during a parade as part of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Bali, Indonesia on Jan. 24.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson points at performers dressed as lions as he welcomes members of the British Chinese community for Chinese New Year celebrations outside 10 Downing Street in London, England on Jan. 24.

Cambodians perform the traditional Chinese dragon dance near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Jan. 24.

Entertainers perform at Rod Laver Arena during day five of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 24.

Fireworks light up the sky over the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building in New York City celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year, as seen from Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S., on Jan. 23.

A bicyclist stands in front of a display for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Beijing, China, on Jan. 22.

Dancers perform a drama piece titled "Shi Feng" in celebrations of the upcoming Chinese New Year in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Jan. 20.

Citizens shop for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Macao, China, on Jan. 20.

Members of a Chinese Wudang Kung Fu group perform a traditional Kung Fu show to celebrate the Spring Festival in Amman, Jordan, on Jan. 20.

People select decorative items at Chinatown in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Jan. 19.

More on celebrating Chinese New Year on MSN.

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Pictures of the Week from MSN

Let's see what's around the world this past week according to MSN's 'Pictures of the week'.

Let's start off with this image of French climber Alain Robert. Also known as "Spiderman", this image shows him scaling the Tour Total skyscraper in support of the anti pensions reform strikers at La Defense financial and business district on Jan 13.

And closer home in The Philippines, a lightning streak is seen over Batangas as Taal Volcano erupts on Jan. 20.

And in Sydney, Australia, projections are seen on the sails of the Sydney Opera House in recognition of the communities affected by wildfires and to honor firefighters, on Jan. 11.

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a soccer player from the Haiti team, and survivor of the 2010 earthquake, in action during the 'Two Crutches And A Ball' event, held on the 10th anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, on Jan. 11.

The next picture kind of reminds me of our yearly smog situation. This is of Melbourne, Australia - A general view of Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park with the city shrouded in smoke in the background, on Jan. 14.

The beauty of sunrise. Frankfurt, Germany - A woman walks her dog just before sunrise on Jan. 14.

In Lisbon, Portugal - Neighbors and environmentalists join efforts to plant trees in a park as part of the initiatives included in Lisbon European Green Capital 2020 on Jan. 12.

Agra, India - Tourists visit the Taj Mahal on Jan. 12. It is said the the Taj Mahal has very good feng shui features.

New York, US - Participants in the 19th Annual "No Pants Subway Ride" travel in the subway on Jan. 12. I didn't read about this taking place in Malaysia this year.

And finally, this one of Paris, France - A model presents a creation by Off-White, during the men's Fall/Winter 2020/2021 collection fashion show on Jan. 15.

For more images, check out MSN's Pictures of the Week.

Man climbing up a coconut tree

Some mornings are this colourful in Malaysia, particularly in Terengganu, a north-eastern state on Peninsula Malaysia.

The above is a stunning image of a man climbing up a coconut tree at sunrise which was featured on Apple's official Instagram page. Picture was taken by Nor Azmeer Iskandar Amir Hamzah.

The Kuala Lumpur native said he took the image in August last year at Kampung Rusila in Marang, Terengganu, a fishing town located on the main highway between Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu.

Source: MSN