Year of the Tiger: Nations ring in new lunar year

People across Asia prepared Monday for muted Lunar New Year celebrations amid concerns over the coronavirus and the virulent omicron variant, even as increasing vaccination rates raised hopes that the Year of the Tiger might bring life back closer to normal.

A child in a tiger costume walks with a lantern ahead of the Lunar New Year festivity at Yu Garden, following new COVID-19 cases in Shanghai, China, Jan. 28, 2022.

People shop to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year in Taipei, Taiwan, Jan. 30, 2022.

Staff members pose with “Fai Chun,” a traditional New Year decoration, at Main Media Centre, ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Lunar New Year, in Beijing, China, Jan. 31, 2022.

A worshipper wearing a face mask makes offerings of incense sticks on Lunar New Year's Eve, at the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, China, Jan. 31, 2022.

A girl visits an area decorated with lanterns ahead of the Lunar New Year festivity at Yu Garden, following the new coronavirus cases in Shanghai, China, Jan. 28, 2022.

People stand near Lunar New Year decorations at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Buddhist Temple in Jenjarom, Malaysia, Jan. 28, 2022.

A woman takes a selfie with Lunar New Year decorations at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Buddhist Temple in Jenjarom, Malaysia, Jan. 28, 2022.

A sparrow stands on a dragon head on the roof of the Amurva Bhumi temple during Lunar New Year celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

Worshippers wearing face masks pray and touch a golden deer on Lunar New Year's Eve, at the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, China, Jan. 31, 2022.

Customers wearing face masks shop for decorations on Lunar New Year's Eve, in Hong Kong, China, Jan. 31, 2022.

Divers perform an underwater dragon show at the Jakarta Aquarium and Safari ahead of the Lunar New Year in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 31, 2022.

People pray at a temple to celebrate Lunar New Year in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Jan. 31, 2022.

North Korean refugees and their family members bow in respect for their ancestors as they visit the Imjingak Pavilion near the border with North Korea, to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Paju, South Korea, Feb. 1, 2022.

People wearing protective masks, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, walk past lantern decorations on Lunar New Year's Eve at Chinatown in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, Jan. 31, 2022.

South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young places a flower as he visits the Imjingak Pavilion near the border with North Korea, to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Paju, South Korea, Feb. 1, 2022.

People wearing protective masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 walk through the Sea of Love bridge, which is decorated ahead of the Lunar New Year, at the Jakarta Aquarium and Safari in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 31, 2022.

Ethnic Chinese worshipers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pray to celebrate the Lunar New Year at a temple in Bali, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

North Korean refugees and their family members pay respects for their ancestors as they visit the Imjingak Pavilion near the border with North Korea, to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Paju, South Korea, Feb. 1, 2022.

A woman lights a candle during the lunar New Year celebrations at the Hok Lay Kiong temple in Bekasi, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

Worshippers pray during lunar New Year celebrations at the Hok Lay Kiong temple in Bekasi, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

People visit the statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung (L) and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year holidays, Feb. 1, 2022.

A woman prays while holding incense at a Chinese temple to mark the start of the Lunar New Year in Banda Aceh, Feb. 1, 2022, ushering in the Year of the Tiger.

A woman offers a prayer during Lunar New Year celebrations at a temple in Kolkata Eastern India, Feb. 1, 2022.

Members of the Chinese community in Mexico perform the traditional Chinese dragon dance at a Chinese restaurant in Mexico City, Jan. 31, 2022.

A man prays during the Lunar New Year at a temple in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Jan. 31, 2022.

Worshippers hold joss sticks during lunar New Year celebrations at the Hok Lay Kiong temple in Bekasi, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

A lion dance performer poses at Yamashitacho park on Lunar New Year's eve of the Tiger in Yokohama's Chinatown area, Jan. 31, 2022.

People pray at Sin Sze Si Ya temple to celebrate Lunar New Year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 1, 2022.

A woman wearing a protective mask prays during Lunar New Year celebrations, held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at a temple in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

People watch an underwater lion dance during the first day of the Lunar New Year at KLCC Aquaria in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 1, 2022.

A man sits at the Amurva Bhumi temple during the Lunar New Year of the Tiger celebration, amid the spread of omicron variant of the coronavirus in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 1, 2022.

People look at ice sculptures of tigers as Helsinki celebrates the upcoming Lunar New Year with a display of ice sculptures across the city in Helsinki, Finland, Jan. 31, 2022.