Year Of The Dog

A Filipino model smiles as she carries her pet dog during a dog and owner fashion show to celebrate the Chinese New Year in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006.

A girl looks at a lion as it parades through central London in celebration of Chinese New Year, Year of the Dog, Sunday, Jan 29, 2006. Tens of thousands of people packed central London today to join in colorful celebrations of Chinese New Year.

A dragon dances at Trafalgar Square in London in celebration of Chinese New Year, Year of the Dog, Sunday, Jan 29, 2006. Tens of thousands of people packed central London today to join in colourful celebrations of Chinese New Year. Huge crowds braved the cold to watch fireworks and the traditional Grand Parade of dragons and lions from Chinatown to Trafalgar Square.

A Chinese juggler balances a plate on a spoon as he performs at a temple fair in Beijing, Monday Jan. 30, 2006. China welcomed the Year of Dog setting off firecrackers, eating dumplings, burning incense, visiting temple fairs and extending blessings to friends and family.

A Chinese folk dancer prepares to perform at a temple fair in Beijing, Monday Jan. 30, 2006.China welcomed the Year of Dog setting off firecrackers, eating dumplings, burning incense, visiting temple fairs and extending blessings to friends and family.

The hand of a Chinese worshiper reaches out to burn incense at a Buddhist shrine to celebrate the new lunar year during Spring Festival festivities at the Lama temple in Beijing, China Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006. The Spring Festival falls on the first day of the first lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynast and is the most important festival for the Chinese people.

Chinese dragon dancers entertain onlookers as they parade through China Town in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, the New Year's Day in the Lunar calendar. The community, including both pro-Beijing and pro-Taipei Chinese residents, mingled with Japanese visitors in the town's largest celebration of the year.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in Chinese traditional new year outfit pose with visitors during the celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year at Hong Kong Disneyland Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006.

Chinese police stantds guard as Chinese performers dressed in traditional lion costumes, not in picture, dance during the opening of the Temple of the Earth Park temple fair, as the nation brings in the Lunar New Year during the Spring Festival in Beijing, China Saturday Jan. 28, 2006. The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar.

Ten dogs from Japan performed in an open-air circus Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, in Hong Kong to celebrate ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Year of the Dog honors man's best friend, so it should be a better year for humanity, with fewer earthquakes, wars and other nastiness, right? Probably not, say Chinese fortunetellers.

Passengers arrive at Beijing's railway station Friday, Jan. 27, 2006. The migration of hundreds of millions of people for the Chinese New Year is larger than the migration inspired by the Muslim hajj. Chinese transportation officials estimated that about 4 million people per day would be riding the rails during the month-long travel period.

The New York United Lion & Dragon Dance Troupe performs at the Golden Bridge restaurant in New York on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006. Chinese New Year begins Sunday, Jan. 29.

Chinese lanterns decorate Oxford Street in London after the lighting ceremony performed by Mayor Ken Livingstone and Chinese pop star Li Yuchun on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006. The lanterns mark the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations in London.

Taiwanese artist Hsu Pu paints a flowery motif on a paper lantern Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006, in Tucheng, Taipei County, Taiwan. The 15th day of the Chinese lunar new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

The giant Chinese "Chun" character, meaning "spring," is displayed on the sides of the Taipei 101 building, the tallest building in the world at 1,666 feet on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, in Taipei, Taiwan. The Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 29, will celebrate the Year of the Dog, one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

People shop for decorations for the Chinese New Year in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006. Ethnic Chinese Malaysians will celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Dog, which falls on Jan. 29.

A woman shops for Chinese Lunar New Year decorations in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006. Ethnic Chinese Malaysians will celebrate the Year of the Dog, which falls on Jan. 29.

An Indonesian man prepares for the Chinese New Year at a Chinese temple Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006, in Jakarta. Indonesia's ethnic Chinese are preparing feasts and decking out temples to mark the Year of the Dog. Amid the festivities, some still complain of discrimination -- part of a legacy of racism in the archipelago stretching back 200 years.

Tourists take photos under colorful lanterns on display at the Kek Lok Si temple in Penang Island, Malaysia, on Monday, Jan. 24, 2006. Chinese throughout the world will be celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Jan. 29.

A Chinese worker puts the finishing touches on a decoration for the Year of the Dog at a popular Beijing park on Monday, Jan. 23, 2006.

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