Photos: Snake Performers celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year

A performer inserts a live snake through his nose and mouth during a performance at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, began on February 10 and marked the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac.REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

A performer inserts a live snake through his nose and mouth during a performance at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

A performer inserts a live snake through his nose and mouth during a performance at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013.REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

A performer prepares to insert the head of a live snake into his mouth during a performance at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee

A performer inserts two live snake heads into his mouth during a performance at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee

A performer carries a python for a show at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Performers put on a show using a python and snakes at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing February 11, 2013.REUTERS/Jason Lee