People watch the dragon dance during a Lunar New Year parade in London on Sunday. [PHOTO/XINHUA]

In the streets of several European cities, performances of dragon and lion dances and tai chi drew huge crowds of people, mirroring a growing interest in Chinese culture among Europeans.

Celebrations in London are expected to last a month with a series of activities culminating in the Trafalgar Square parade on Sunday, which organizers say is the biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia.

Dragon and lion dances, Chinese cuisine, Peking Opera performances and light shows are among a flurry of events in the United States and Canada that have deepened understanding of the meaning and charm of the festival.