Colorful photos from the yearly celebration

Happy New Year, China!

Celebrations get under way for the lunar new year in China, 2015 is the year of the goat or sheep. The Chinese lunar calendar is associated with the Chinese zodiac, which has 12 animal signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, Rooster, dog, and pig.

Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle, beginning on Chinese New Year's Day.

Hundreds of millions of people travel home to celebrate with their families and friends.