BEIJING: People are marking the Lunar New Year on Tuesday with prayers, fireworks and festivities. The activities ushered in the Year of the Horse, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, succeeding the Year of the Snake. The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China and some other East Asian nations and is celebrated outside the region, too. Robots take the stage of an annual TV show in China As every year, China celebrated the Lunar New Year with a TV show and once again the humanoid robots were a central part of the performance Monday night.

How long are Lunar New Year festivities? What is the Chinese Zodiac? Here's what to know as the Year of the Horse celebrations begin.

Year of the horse signals optimism and opportunity, with authorities keen that the extra day of holiday this year provides an economic boost