Celebrating the Year of the Dragon 2012

2. Beijing — A performer portraying the emperor is followed by an imperial entourage dressed in brilliant clothing during a recreation of the Sacrifice to Heaven ritual on the second day of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at the Temple of Heaven. PHOTOGRAPH BY: DIEGO AZUBEL / European Pressphoto Agency

3. Chinese female drummers participate in a drum dance at the Dongyue Temple during the Chinese New Year in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. AP / Andy Wong

4. Performers take part in a dragon dance during a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon. AP / Vincent Yu

5. In a picture taken on January 23, 2012, a young woman performs at a temple fair on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Beijing. (Getty)

7. Chinese New Year 2012: Chinese folk artists on stilts perform at a Spring Festival Temple Fair on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Longtan Park in Beijing January 24, 2012. - Source: Reuters

8. Chinese New Year 2012: Folk artists on stilts perform at a Spring Festival Temple Fair on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Longtan Park in Beijing January 24, 2012. - Source: Reuters People light incense sticks as they prepare to pray during the first day of the Lunar New Year at Dharma Bhakti temple in Jakarta January 23, 2012. Source: Reuters

9. Chinese New Year 2012: Two male folk artists dressed as Chinese traditional women dance at a Spring Festival Temple Fair on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Longtan Park in Beijing January 24, 2012. Source: Reuters

10. Performers take part in "Tai Ge" during the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at a park in Nanjing, China on Jan. 24. "Tai Ge," also known as "Lift Pavilion," is a traditional show with performers on a steel frame and costumes to make it seem like they are standing or being lifted in a impossible way) Sean Yong / Reuters

11. A woman swallows a live snake as she performs on a small stage showcasing acts of magic and feats of unusual physical abilities at the temple fair in Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing on Jan. 24 David Gray / Reuters

12. n a picture taken on January 23, 2012, Chinese performers entertain visitors on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Beijing. (Getty)

20. Colorfull Chinese lunar new year’s dragons hanging in front of a store with good fortune quotes.

25. A Chinese performer dressed as a leader jumps as he performs with female drummers during the Chinese New Year at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

26. Performers take part in a dragon dance in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

27. An Indonesian ethnic Chinese man carries his boy to help to light a candle during Lunar New Year celebrations at a temple in Chinatown in Tangerang, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

28. A Chinese actor dressed as a Qing Dynasty emperor prepares for a prayer during an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune at a temple fair in Ditan Park during the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing, China, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. AP / Andy Wong

29. Chinese performers dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes participate in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for a good harvest and fortune at a temple fair in Ditan Park during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, in Beijing, China, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. AP / Andy Wong

30. hinese performers dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes participate in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for a good harvest and fortune at a temple fair in Ditan Park during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, in Beijing, China, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. AP / Andy Wong

32. Chinese security guards yawn before proceeding to their duties at a temple fair in Ditan Park during the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing, China, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. AP / Andy Wong

34. Shaolin monks take part in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

35. Dancers performer near a float decorated with dragons in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

36. Performers take part in a dragon dance in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

37. A performer takes part in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

38. Performers take part in a dragon dance during a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, to celebrate the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

39. Performers dance in front of a float decorated with dragons in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

40. Performers take part in a dragon dance during a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, to celebrate the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. AP / Vincent Yu

41. Dragon dance performers participate in Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. AP / Sakchai Lalit

42. Fireworks explode over the Victoria Harbour to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Hong Kong TuA performer breaths fire during a dragon dance performance in celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district Monday Jan. 23, 2012 in the Philippines. AP / Bullit Marquez esday, Jan. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

44. A Filipino-Chinese lights candles while praying inside a Chinese temple in celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district Monday Jan. 23, 2012 in the Philippines. AP / Bullit Marquez

45. Filipino-Chinese wait for their turn to perform a dragon dance on the eve of the celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 in the Philippines. AP / Bullit Marquez

46. A crowd gather at Manila's Chinatown district as Filipino-Chinese perform a dragon dance on the eve of the celebration of the Chinese New Year Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 in Manila, Philippines. AP / Bullit Marquez

47. Filipino-Chinese perform a dragon dance on the eve of the celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 in the Philippines. AP / Bullit Marquez

48. Indonesia's ethnic Chinese women light incense sticks in preparation for a prayer as part of celebrations of Lunar New Year at a temple in Tangerang, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. AP / Achmad Ibrahim

49. Manila — Filipinos perform a dragon dance to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year on the trading floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange. PHOTOGRAPH BY: NOEL CELIS / AFP / Getty Images

50. Beijing — People enjoy their holiday riding ice bumper cars during the second day of the Lunar New Year celebration. PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images