World

Hundreds of Millions Celebrate Lunar New Year: Welcome to the Year of the Snake!

2025-01-29

Author: Mei

BEIJING:

This past Wednesday, families across Asia came together to celebrate the Lunar New Year, marking the transition from the dynamic Year of the Dragon to the more introspective Year of the Snake. This festive occasion, which occurs on January 29, 2025, drew hundreds of millions into a jubilant celebration filled with tradition and reunion.

In China, the Lunar New Year festivities span eight consecutive public holidays, encouraging people to gather for meals, partake in vibrant traditional performances, and ignite firecrackers that light up the night sky. This year, the country witnessed an unprecedented movement of people as millions returned to their hometowns, creating one of the largest human migrations in the world.

Airport terminals and train stations have been bustling with activity for weeks, as travelers navigate the holiday rush. It’s estimated that during the traditional 40-day travel period surrounding the New Year, about 9 billion interprovincial passenger trips will occur, with both train and air travel reaching record levels, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The celebrations extend far beyond China. High streets, shopping malls, and even homes in places like South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand were adorned with festive red decorations, believed to drive away negative energies and usher in good fortune for the year ahead.

In Taiwan, bustling temple visits were the highlight for many on New Year's morning. Families flocked to sacred sites like Longshan Temple in Taipei to make offerings of fruit, sweets, and more. "Our tradition is to visit the temple and pray for good fortune. I wish for a smooth and peaceful year ahead," shared Chen Ching-yuan, a 36-year-old from Taipei, as she celebrated alongside her mother.

The competitive spirit was alive as some temple attendees raced to be the first to release incense, a symbolic act believed to attract good luck. "I didn’t want to look back with regret, so I took the plunge," said Kao Meng-shun, the event winner at Fusing Temple in Yunlin County.

However, not all travel was seamless. In South Korea, heavy snowfall caused significant disruption to transport services as many sought to reunite with family in rural areas. Reports from Seoul’s main train station depicted passengers laden with colorful gifts and luggage, eager to embark on their holiday journeys. The storm led to delays on major highways, where travel time increased dramatically.

Meanwhile, for those who sought adventure outside their borders, Incheon International Airport anticipated over 2.1 million travelers flying abroad during the holiday period, marking the busiest New Year travel season since the airport's opening in 2001.

Adding a cosmic twist to the festivities, Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station shared New Year greetings, dressed in traditional garments adorned with red cloud patterns. Their heartfelt message echoed the sentiments of the season: “In the new year, may all your dreams come true,” stated astronaut Wang Haoze, forming a heart shape in a celebratory video shared with Earth.

As hundreds of millions celebrate this ancient tradition, it’s clear that the Lunar New Year is not just about marking time but about cherishing connections, hopeful beginnings, and the collective wish for prosperity and health in the Year of the Snake. So, whether you're feasting on dumplings or watching the fireworks light the sky, this festive moment is truly a global celebration of culture, resilience, and hope.