Lunar New Year designs often feature cute depictions of the year's Chinese zodiac animal. But making a snake cute is a challenge, artists say, resulting in an array of biologically inaccurate renderings.

Celebrations vary from culture to culture, but typically on the first day of Lunar New Year people visit the senior members of their extended family. One of the most recognizable celebrations is lion dance troupes, a dramatic tradition meant to usher in the New Year and expel evil spirits.

Cecilia Liang's Lunar New Year decoration stall has been an annual fixture in the Yaohan Centre in Richmond, B.C., for 25 years — but she knew some products would be a tough sell this year. With the Year of the Snake dawning on Wednesday,

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield

Lunar New Year Festival helped ring in the Year of the Snake on Saturday at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center.

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield on Wednesday.