One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. Because the beast feared the color red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster.

Lunar New Year starts this week, marking an important holiday in China and other Asian communities. Lunar New Year celebrations can last up to 15 days, starting on the new moon between late January and mid-February. The exact date varies each year based on the lunar calendar.

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a traditional Asian celebration that has been observed in for thousands of years. Every winter, Asian communities around the world ring in the Lunar New Year with carnivals, food, family gatherings, parades and more.

At its core, the Lunar New Year is a celebration that brings the family together. This new year is the year of the snake.

Millions of people across Asia and the world are celebrating the start of the Lunar New Year today, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake. Marking the first new moon of the

In honor of the Year of the Snake, let’s appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles