More than a billion people worldwide welcomed the Lunar New Year, embracing cultural customs that emphasize family, feasting, and new beginnings.
Lunar New Year Celebrations Usher in Year of the Snake
Lunar New Year Celebrations Usher in Year of the Snake
Global festivities mark the arrival of the Lunar New Year, with vibrant traditions and family gatherings.
On Tuesday, the festivities kicked off as families across continents celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Snake, highlighted by firework displays and sumptuous meals. The New Year, known as Seollal in South Korea and Tet in Vietnam, represents a significant cultural moment in many Asian societies, drawing individuals back to their roots and hometowns.
A hallmark of this celebration is the world's largest annual migration as countless people travel from bustling cities to their ancestral homes, enduring busy transport hubs. The rituals associated with Lunar New Year are highly diverse yet share similar themes including familial bonding, rituals to attract prosperity, and remembering ancestors. Many individuals pay homage at temples, offering traditional foods and lighting incense in reverence for their forebears.
In China, children look forward to receiving red envelopes filled with money—symbols of good fortune from relatives. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, streets come alive with dragon dances believed to bring luck and prosperity, enhancing the celebratory atmosphere.
As fireworks painted the night sky in various locales, and vibrant local traditions unrolled, communities reflected on the passing Year of the Dragon while eagerly anticipating what the Year of the Snake holds in store for them.
