A colorful look behind China's New Year celebrations

The spectacle of China's longest public holiday doesn't just happen overnight

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The ubiquitous red lanterns
A worker arranges toy monkeys in a shop on Feb. 4, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is China's most important traditional festival and the country completely shuts down so families can enjoy week)

A man makes the traditional "Matang" candy on Jan. 19, in Yuqing County, Zunyi, China.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/China Daily))

A member of a Chinese opera troupe applies make-up before a performance at a shopping mall on Feb. 4 ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha))

A villager prepares sweet potato vermicelli on Jan. 26, in southwest China's Guangzi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
(Image credit: (Lu Boan/Xinhua Press/Corbis))

A worker paints a large incense stick on Jan. 27, in Medan, Indonesia.
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara))

A man works on masks used for traditional lion dances at a workshop on Jan. 21, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Olivia Harris))

A traditional Fai Chun sign, which boasts phrases of good luck and prosperity, is hand-written on Feb. 4, in Hong Kong.
(Image credit: (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images))

Workers prepare mooncake dough on Feb. 1, in Tangerang, Indonesia.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Beawiharta))

Folk artist Zhao Yongqi paints a monkey mask at his studio on Jan. 29, in Beijing, China.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Jason Lee))

A worker makes lanterns at a factory on Jan. 19, in Boai county, Henan province, China.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/China Daily))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.