Yongin, South Korea — South Koreans release paper lanterns to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. According to the lunar calendar, the first full moon falls on Monday, Feb. 6, this year, and is the day Koreans traditionally eat special treats and wish for a bountiful harvest in the year.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press

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Nuanquan, China — A blacksmith throws molten metal against a cold wall to create sparks, as he and others celebrate the Lantern Festival, which traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. For more than 300 years, the village that is famous for its blacksmith skills has maintained the tradition, which they considered a cheaper alternative to buying fireworks during the Lantern Festival.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images

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Nuanquan, China — Blacksmiths prepare to throw molten metal against a cold wall to create sparks as they celebrate the Lantern Festival.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images

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Nuanquan, China — Blacksmiths throw molten metal against a cold wall to create sparks, as they celebrate the Lantern Festival.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images

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Zibo, China — Chinese folk artists perform on the street to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival in Zibo. The Chinese Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival or Shangyuan Festival, falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: WU HONG / EPA

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Zibo, China — Chinese people look at lanterns to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: WU HONG / EPA

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Dejiang, China — Young men parade paper dragons on bamboo sticks as fireworks and firecrackers are thrown at them in a street during the Lantern Festival in the Tujia-ethnic Dejiang county in southwest Guizhou province. Most of the 72 dragons dancing in the streets in the town will be burnt to bamboo skeletons.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: LU DI / EPA

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Beijing — A Chinese employee dresses as a god of fortune to attract customers while distributing discount vouchers at the entrance of a shopping mall during the Chinese Lantern Festival.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Feng Li / Getty Images

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Yongin, South Korea — South Koreans release paper lanterns to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=53006

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