Hundreds of people have gathered in Meeting House square in Dublin’s Temple Bar to mark the Lunar New Year.
It brings to an end nine days of festivities organised by Dublin City Council to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
The event in Temple Bar runs until 6pm and is free to attend.
Heralding the start of the Year of the Dragon, Chinese New Year is considered a major festival across the Sinosphere, including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Vietnam, and Korea.
The Lunar New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is celebrated according to the lunisolar calendar, generally falling between 21 January and 20 February.
Chinese zodiacs are represented by a range of animals that repeat in a cycle of 12 years. Zodiac animals each hold their own reputed attributes, these include the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The Lunar New Year being celebrated in Temple Bar in Dublin @rtenews pic.twitter.com/M6tVRVXFGX
— Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) February 11, 2024
In Dublin celebrations will also be held at Hill Street Family Resource Centre (HSFRC) in Dublin’s north inner city, with over 4,000 expected to attend.
Chief Executive of HSFRC Eileen Smith said: “It is great to be able to continue this tradition ten years later, celebrating Asian culture and the Lunar New Year with all the families involved in our resource centre.
“This community is incredibly close-knit, our staff, volunteers, and neighbours, have been preparing for this significant cultural event over the past few months.
“Celebrating diversity in our community is paramount to all of us here at the Centre. HSFRC believes that creating spaces that celebrate differences encourages meaningful integration for all.”
Read more: Chinese New Year: How to celebrate the year of the dragon
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