News through pictures: Celebrations begin for Chinese New Year

Celebrations have started all over the world for the Chinese New Year and beginning February 8th, we enter the Year of the Monkey. Each New Year is characterized by one of 12 animals in the cycle of the Chinese Zodiac, and the Monkey is the 9th. 2015 was the Year of the Sheep, and we won't see another Year of the Monkey until 2028.

Celebrated most prominently in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, and the Philippines, there are also plenty of festivities in the UK, US and across the world.

The date of the new year changes from one year to the next, as it occurs at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. That means that only those born after February 8th, 2016 will be considered born into the Year of the Monkey -- those born in January and early February were technically born into the Year of the Sheep.

Also known as the Spring Festival, celebrations will run from tonight through the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the new year. Click through above to see some of the stunning images from around the world.

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