Wisps and clouds of smoke rose into the air at Buddhist and Daoist temples around Asia on Wednesday as people lit incense to pray for good luck in the Year of the Snake.

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,

American, the Chinese or Lunar New Year was always a great time of celebration in our family, and we followed many Chinese New Year traditions to secure a prosperous and fortunate year ahead. Here are some things to know about the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Several countries mark their new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar involving movement of the Sun and Moon.

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.

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield on Wednesday. (AP video shot by Syawalludin Zain, Taijing Wu)