Lion dancers from Mak Fai Dragon and Lion Dance Association talk about lion dancing during the Lunar New Year. This year is the first time the Lunar New Year is officially recognized as a Washington state holiday.

As millions of people around the globe ring in the Lunar New Year, one Boston hotel welcomed a local kung fu and tai chi academy to perform and bestow good luck and fortune to all into the year 4,723.

Flinging her male teammate into the air, performer Lin Xinmeng practises China's world-famous lion dance with a troupe that is shrugging off centuries of patriarchal norms. But it's my passion and it's up to me alone to take it on,

Wednesday marks the start of the Lunar New Year, a major festival that is celebrated for several days in many parts of Asia and in Asian communities around the world.

Lion dances can be seen during special occasions, like weddings, birthdays and store openings, and symbolize good luck and fortune. They are also an integral part of ushering in the new year, according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, and honoring a new Chinese Zodiac sign.

The Port Arthur Lions will perform the centuries-old dance tradition that symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and good health for the upcoming Year of the Snake, according to a news release from the City of Beaumont. The event will take place outside Beaumont City Hall, located at 801 Main Street.