AOL.com Video - China and Japan Celebrate Lunar New Year

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China and Japan Celebrate Lunar New Year

Description:Celebrations rang out in Beijing and Tokyo on Sunday night , marking the start of the new year. According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, the year of the dragon begins on Monday (January 23). Fireworks exploded into the sky in Beijing and they will be permitted until February 6 in the capital. Traditionally, fireworks are believed to have been first set off to scare off a man-eating monster, and they have now become an indispensable feature of the nationwide celebrations. (2:16)

Source: Reuters

Tags: Asian Countries Celebrate Lunar New Year , asian new year celebrations , china lunar new year , china year of the dragon