Residents and tourists packing streets in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui cheered and applauded as floats, dancers and musicians joined the Lunar New Year parade on Wednesday night, delivering a rousing welcome to the Year of the Snake.

A few years ago, as I sat alone in a Chinese restaurant in Edmonton on Lunar New Year, I heard children saying “Happy New Year” in English. I thought to myself, how lucky I was growing up to see Lunar New Year in Hong Kong. The waitress came by and asked, “All alone?”

The Lunar New Year parade took place in Tsim Sha Tsui on Wednesday, with Chief Executive John Lee opening the event. In his speech, the Chief

Millions mark Lunar New Year with celebrations in Hong Kong Lunar New Year festivals and prayers marked the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and farther afield on Wednesday — including in Moscow.