Reuters/Business Insider

• The novel coronavirus outbreak has affected one of the most important cultural holidays in the Chinese culture: Lunar New Year.
• After unprecedented quarantines were imposed throughout the country, people are prevented from traveling to see their families during the holiday.
• Here are photos comparing last year's celebration — complete with Chinese lions, historical dances, and family time — to this year.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more.

The novel coronavirus outbreak in China began in tandem with a significant holiday in the Chinese culture: the Lunar New Year.

Parts of China went under unprecedented quarantine in hopes to stem the spread of the deadly disease, known as 2019-nCoV, affecting around 35 million people in the country.

The Lunar New Year celebration traditionally calls for parades, outdoor festivals, and lanterns throughout the city, as people gather with their families to celebrate the annual holiday.

However, in light of the Wuhan coronavirus that has killed 41 and infected nearly 1,300 in China alone, cities around the country are forced to cancel one of the most important cultural events of the year.

Here are photos comparing last year's celebration — complete with Chinese lions, historical dances, and family time — to this year:

2019: Crowds gather in Ditan Park in Beijing, China.

Thomas Peter/Reuters2020: Ditan Park is eerily empty as workers took down the lantern decorations after the Lunar New Year celebration was cancelled.

Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters2019: Signs with the Chinese character "Fu," which means "Good luck," hang in the Forbidden City.

Jason Lee/Reuters2020: Doctors hold up the same sign in the hospital while treating coronavirus patients.

THE CENTRAL HOSPITAL OF WUHAN VIA WEIBO via Reuters2019: Folk artists perform a traditional lion dance.

Reuters2020: A Chinese tourist wearing a mask is flanked by two lions at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand.