This year, Lunar New Year begins today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, and ends Feb. 12. Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th century when it gained global recognition through Chinese immigrant communities, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in the lunar calendar.

For skywatchers, the Lunar New Year lines up perfectly with the new moon. According to NASA, the new moon becomes official at 7:36 a.m. Wednesday when it passes between the Earth and the Sun.

Jan. 28 marks the Lunar New Year, beginning the Year of the Snake. It's not the only lunar festival — Ramadan begins Feb. 28, Passover on April 12 and Easter on April 20.

In honor of the Year of the Snake, let’s appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles

Asian American communities around the U.S. and around the world are ringing in the Year of the Snake Wednesday, including in New York City. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival,