Celebration Gallery

Sky lanterns are released ahead of the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in Pingxi

Sky lanterns are released ahead of the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in Pingxi, New Taipei city, northern Taiwan, February 17, 2013. Believers gathered to release sky lanterns as a form of prayer for good luck and blessings. The tradition of releasing lanterns began during the Ching Dynasty when bands of outlaws frequently raided villages, forcing local residents to seek refuge in the mountains. The lanterns were signals used by the village watchmen to inform the refugees that their houses were safe again. The Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang (TAIWAN - Tags: SOCIETY ANNIVERSARY) - GM1E92H1LUM01

Performers dressed as traditional figures dance through the streets during the San

Performers dressed as oversized traditional figures dance through the streets during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 10, 2012. Visitors to the nine-day festival, depicted in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises", take part in activities including the running of the bulls, an early morning half-mile dash from the corral to the bullring alongside six bulls destined to die in the afternoon's corrida. This is followed by processions of giant traditional figures, concerts, firebulls, fireworks, and large doses of eating, drinking, dancing and late nights. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso (SPAIN - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1E87A1D4N01

A dragon-shaped lantern is on display in front of Taiwan's landmark building Taipei

A dragon-shaped lantern is on display in front of Taiwan's landmark building Taipei 101 during Lantern Festival celebrations February 5, 2012. The Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. The Lantern Festival is also known as the Little New Year since it marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang (TAIWAN - Tags: SOCIETY ANNIVERSARY TRAVEL CITYSPACE) - GM1E8251J6S01