WORLD WELCOMES CHINESE NEW YEAR

Celebrating Spring Festival the African way, spreading warmth

Editor's Note: Spring Festival, or the Year of the Pig in the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Feb 5 this year. To celebrate the biggest annual festival in China, people will gather with their families and friends, wearing new clothes and eating traditional food. With China's growing influence in the world, Chinese New Year has become one of the world's most prominent and celebrated festivals. Splendid fireworks, colorful parades, New Year concerts and star-studded galas are seen across the globe during the festival. Here are some of the stories and pictures showing how Spring Festival is celebrated around the world.

Spring Festival, also known as Lunar New Year, is one of the most important annual events for Chinese people living in South Africa.