Skip to main content
SnapScope
Asia

Celebrating the Year of the Snake: Lunar New Year Festivities Begin Worldwide

More than a billion people join together to welcome the Lunar New Year with traditions, feasts, and fireworks.

By Yan Zhuang and Amy Chang ChienSource: nytimes.com1 min read
Celebrating the Year of the Snake: Lunar New Year Festivities Begin Worldwide
Image via nytimes.com

In brief

From vibrant celebrations in Asia to festive gatherings in the United States, families cherish traditions and look to the future.

As the Year of the Snake kicks off, over a billion people worldwide are embracing the joy of the Lunar New Year. Initiated on Tuesday, the festivities include dazzling fireworks, family reunions, and sumptuous feasts that span across countries like China, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam. The first new moon signals not just the lunar calendar's start but also the anticipated arrival of spring. Known as Seollal in South Korea and Tet in Vietnam, this time draws the world's largest annual human migration as millions travel from bustling cities to their hometowns.While customs vary, core themes of family, prosperity rituals, and feasting unite the celebrations. In China, red envelopes filled with money are gifted to children, symbolizing blessings from elders. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, vibrant dragon dances take to the streets, believed to usher in good fortune and prosperity.From the bustling temples of Bangkok to lantern festivals in Nantong, the festive spirit shines across the globe in honor of the Lunar New Year.

Topics

More on this story