2018 Chinese New Year: Celebrating the Year of the Dog

Today, February 16, marks the Chinese New Year, which celebrates the Year of the Dog, and triggers one of the most colorful and exuberant global events of the year. These celebrations are marked with light and sound, bells, lighting firecrackers and participating in traditional parades and dances.

As with the other eleven zodiac symbols, the Dog is a symbol of the what the year will bring and highlights personality traits of those born under these signs. According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in the year of the Dog are conservative and full of justice. Because of their loyalty, Dogs are valuable members of the workplace. They rarely break rules and only wish to live quietly with their families.

To celebrate this Chinese New Year, here are five color palettes to inspire your festivities:

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens highlighting The Year of the Dog. Image Credit: Bellagio Hotel

Chinese New Year symbols of celebration. Image Credit: Getty Images

Ditan Park gets decorated for the upcoming Chinese New Year on February 1, 2018 in Beijing, China. Image Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

People look at a dog lantern at a lantern show on February 8, 2018 in Changzhou, China. Chinese People are preparing for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the dog on the lunar calendar, which falls on February 16. Image Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

BELLAGIO CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS HIGHLIGHTING THE YEAR OF THE DOG. IMAGE CREDIT: BELLAGIO HOTEL

Happy New Year!