Farewell, Year of the Dragon. According to the Chinese zodiac, today marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake. Festivities across Asia and Chinatowns in big cities around the world celebrate with grand decorations, dragon dances, and parades. These photos are a glimpse of early festivities located in: Guangzhou, China | Singapore | Honolulu, Hawaii

See more celebration photos in the Lunar New Year 2013 gallery.

Photos from stevenxfile, Andrew JK Tan, Lioneldude Photography, ediot, and colleeninhawaii.