People visit a lantern fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Luoyang, China, on Tuesday, February 1.
In pictures: Lunar New Year 2022
People visit a lantern fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Luoyang, China, on Tuesday, February 1.
Huang Zhengwei/VCG/Getty Images

Updated 12:26 PM EST, Thu February 3, 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has once again impacted the way people will be celebrating Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in the Chinese zodiac calendar.

In many cities, public festivities have been pared down or canceled. But millions of families around the world will still be celebrating.

The 15-day festival began on Tuesday, February 1. This is the Year of the Tiger.

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visit Chinatown in London on February 1.
Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visit Chinatown in London on February 1.
AP
People visit the Forbidden City in Beijing to mark the start of the Lunar New Year.
People visit the Forbidden City in Beijing to mark the start of the Lunar New Year.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
People view underwater ballet to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Hefei Aquarium in Hefei, China, on February 1.
People view underwater ballet to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Hefei Aquarium in Hefei, China, on February 1.
Zhou Mu/Xinhua/Getty Images
Visitors give offerings to a lion for good luck during a Lunar New Year celebration in Westminster, California, on February 1.
Visitors give offerings to a lion for good luck during a Lunar New Year celebration in Westminster, California, on February 1.
Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images
A man dressed in a lion costume is seen during a Lunar New Year celebration in West Bengal, India, on February 1.
A man dressed in a lion costume is seen during a Lunar New Year celebration in West Bengal, India, on February 1.
Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends the Lunar New Year firecracker ceremony on February 1.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends the Lunar New Year firecracker ceremony on February 1.
AP
Swimmers perform a fan dance to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Yuncheng, China, on February 1.
Swimmers perform a fan dance to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Yuncheng, China, on February 1.
Jiang Hua/VCG via Getty Images
A girl in a traditional costume stands amid lion dancers during a Lunar New Year celebration in New York City on February 1.
A girl in a traditional costume stands amid lion dancers during a Lunar New Year celebration in New York City on February 1.
Mike Segar/Reuters
People pray at the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong during Lunar New Year celebrations on February 1.
People pray at the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong during Lunar New Year celebrations on February 1.
Vincent Yu/AP
People celebrate in Panama City on February 1.
People celebrate in Panama City on February 1.
Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images
A woman packages homemade Chinese desserts at a market in Bangkok, Thailand.
A woman packages homemade Chinese desserts at a market in Bangkok, Thailand.
Matt Hunt/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Dragon dancers perform in Quezon City, Philippines, on February 1.
Dragon dancers perform in Quezon City, Philippines, on February 1.
Rolex Dela Pena/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
People release birds as they celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year in Surabaya, Indonesia.
People release birds as they celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Juni Kriswanto/AFP/Getty Images
North Korean refugees and their family members pay respect to their ancestors as they visit the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, on February 1. The pavilion is near the North Korean border.
North Korean refugees and their family members pay respect to their ancestors as they visit the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, on February 1. The pavilion is near the North Korean border.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
A child touches an ice sculpture in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, January 31.
A child touches an ice sculpture in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, January 31.
Matti Matikainen/Xinhua/Getty Images
A worker disinfects the ground in Xi'an, China, on January 31.
A worker disinfects the ground in Xi'an, China, on January 31.
Roy Stone/FeatureChina/AP
Sculptured lanterns sit at a traffic intersection in Singapore on January 31.
Sculptured lanterns sit at a traffic intersection in Singapore on January 31.
Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/Getty Images
People visit the Kuan Yim Shrine in Bangkok on January 31.
People visit the Kuan Yim Shrine in Bangkok on January 31.
Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images
A man burns incense papers during a prayer in Denpasar, Indonesia, on January 31.
A man burns incense papers during a prayer in Denpasar, Indonesia, on January 31.
Agung Parameswara/Getty Images
People take part in a Lunar New Year ceremony in Yokohama, Japan.
People take part in a Lunar New Year ceremony in Yokohama, Japan.
Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images
People pray at a temple in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
People pray at a temple in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Ann Wang/Reteurs
A woman, left, and her husband, right, prepare reunion dishes with a friend at a house in Beijing on January 31. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, they decided not to go back to their hometown for the Lunar New Year.
A woman, left, and her husband, right, prepare reunion dishes with a friend at a house in Beijing on January 31. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, they decided not to go back to their hometown for the Lunar New Year.
Andy Wong/AP
Shoppers purchase festive sweets at a street stall in Hong Kong on January 30.
Shoppers purchase festive sweets at a street stall in Hong Kong on January 30.
Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg/Getty Images
People have dinner together in Beijing on Sunday, January 30.
People have dinner together in Beijing on Sunday, January 30.
Varvara Kotsebuk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Travelers line up for trains at a station in Guangzhou, China, on Friday, January 28. Many people traditionally travel home to visit family members during the Lunar New Year.
Travelers line up for trains at a station in Guangzhou, China, on Friday, January 28. Many people traditionally travel home to visit family members during the Lunar New Year.
Chinatopix via AP
Travelers arrive for a train in Beijing on January 27.
Travelers arrive for a train in Beijing on January 27.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
A man walks past a display promoting the Winter Olympics in front of the historic Qianmen Gate in Beijing.
A man walks past a display promoting the Winter Olympics in front of the historic Qianmen Gate in Beijing.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
People wash religious statues at a temple in Bogor, Indonesia, on January 27.
People wash religious statues at a temple in Bogor, Indonesia, on January 27.
Anton Raharjo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Children look at decorations in Yongzhou, China.
Children look at decorations in Yongzhou, China.
Jiang Keqing/VCG via Getty Images
Staff members in protective suits prepare dumplings and other materials for 75 people in Beijing who were under Covid-19 quarantine on January 25.
Staff members in protective suits prepare dumplings and other materials for 75 people in Beijing who were under Covid-19 quarantine on January 25.
Yi Haifei/China News Service/Getty Images
A disinfection robot works at a railway station in Beijing on January 17.
A disinfection robot works at a railway station in Beijing on January 17.
Li Xin/Xinhua via Getty Images
Staff members check passengers' health status at a train station entrance in Huzhou, China, on January 17.
Staff members check passengers' health status at a train station entrance in Huzhou, China, on January 17.
Wu Zheng/VCG via Getty Images