China welcomes the New Year, the year 4705, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, which also makes it the Year of the Pig. New Year festivities all over the country will continue for several weeks.

The coming year is doubly promising as it is the Year of the Golden Pig, which comes only once in decades.

The Year of the Pig is traditionally thought to bring good luck and prosperity.

The main color of Chinese New Year celebrations is red. It symbolizes a choice people make as another year of their lives begins, and also fire, which is believed in China, to drive away bad luck.

The New Year of the Golden Pig is also marked by Russian buddists. The majority of them live in the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia. They gathered in temples for prayers, asking for health, peace and prosperity. They also performed special rituals around a fire, which symbolises the year that's leaving and is also believed to have a purifyng power. People encircled a fire to prevent evil spirits from returning.