NEW YORK, Feb 17 ― New Yorkers ushered in the Year of the Dog on Friday (February 16) with the loud noise of firecrackers.

In Chinese tradition fireworks are believed to scare off evil spirits from the year to come and bring good fortune. The predicted rainfall held off and hundreds enjoyed the unusually warm weather in February to witness the annual event in New York's Chinatown.

Lunar New Year is widely celebrated throughout Asia, in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. In many countries it is a national holiday.

In New York, public schools were closed to celebrate the occasion, as about one sixth of the city's 1.1 million public school students are of Asian descent. ― Reuters