People worldwide are joyously marking the Lunar New Year on Tuesday with a spectacular array of prayers, fireworks, and cultural festivities. These vibrant activities officially ushered in the Year of the Horse, which succeeds the Year of the Snake in the twelve-animal cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Lunar New Year stands as the most significant annual holiday in China and numerous other East Asian nations, with its celebrations now resonating powerfully across international borders.
Hong Kong Temple Traditions at Midnight
In Hong Kong, dense clouds of incense smoke wafted into the night air at a local temple, where crowds traditionally gather annually to make heartfelt wishes for the new year precisely at midnight. Devotees held clusters of incense sticks, bowing their heads reverently several times before carefully planting the sticks into containers positioned in front of the main temple hall, a ritual symbolizing hope and renewal.
Vietnam's Dazzling Tet Celebrations
Entertainers in Vietnam performed energetically at a large outdoor countdown event, leading up to multiple, synchronized fireworks displays that illuminated the skies across several cities in the Southeast Asian nation. Known locally as Tet, the festival featured brilliant light shows that adorned bridges and skyscrapers, while enthusiastic crowds clapped rhythmically to live pop music performances, creating an atmosphere of communal joy.
Chinese Street Fairs in Snowy Moscow
In the Russian capital, Moscow, residents and visitors sampled authentic Chinese cuisine from festive stalls and strolled along snowy streets beautifully decorated with traditional red lanterns and dragon motifs. This marked the commencement of a two-week series of events at various venues across the city. The third annual Lunar New Year celebration in Moscow occurs amidst a period of warming diplomatic relations between China and Russia, a geopolitical dynamic that has concerned many European governments due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Taiwan's Auspicious Temple Bell Ritual
In Taipei, Taiwan, the solemn and resonant peal of a temple bell echoed 108 times—an auspicious number in many Asian cultures—as large crowds flocked to the historic Baoan Temple on Tuesday morning. Participants engaged in traditional practices, lighting incense sticks, bowing their heads in respect, and leaving colorful flower bouquets as offerings on outdoor tables within the temple grounds, fostering a sense of spiritual connection and community.
