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Sunday February 16, 2025

Millions across Asia ring in 'Year of Snake' with grand celebrations

Some temple-goers ushered in the new year by racing to be first to release incense in pursuit of good fortune

By AFP
January 29, 2025
A woman poses for photos with lit candles at a shrine on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake in Bangkok on January 29, 2025. — AFP
A woman poses for photos with lit candles at a shrine on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake in Bangkok on January 29, 2025. — AFP 

Hundreds of millions across Asia rang in the Year of the Snake on Wednesday, bidding farewell to the Year of the Dragon, with grand Lunar New Year celebrations and festive decorations.

In China, the Spring Festival grants eight consecutive public holidays, allowing familes to share meals, enjoy traditional performances, and set off fireworks.

Meanwhile, as millions participate in what is expected to be a record annual migration, train stations and airports are brimming with travellers returning home to loved ones for the holidays.

Additionally, high streets, shopping malls, offices and homes across many parts of East and Southeast Asia, including South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, are adorned with vibrant red banners, believed to ward of evil.

In Taiwan on Wednesday morning, people of all ages thronged temples across the island to make offerings of fruit, sweets, crackers and nuts, and mediate and pray.

"Our tradition is to visit the temple and pray, for better fortune for this year," said Chen Ching-yuan, 36, as she visited Longshan Temple in Taipei with her mother.

"There's no need to ask for anything specific, just wish for a smooth, peaceful, safe, and healthy year, and pray that everything goes well," she told AFP.

Some temple-goers ushered in the new year by racing to be the first to release incense in the pursuit of good fortune.

"I didn't want to look back with regret when I'm old, so I decided to go for it," Kao Meng-shun said, after winning the event at Fusing Temple in Yunlin County, in the central-west of Taiwan.

Spectators watch as a Dragon dance during the celebration on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake at Dam Square, on January 28, 2025. — AFP
Spectators watch as a Dragon dance during the celebration on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake at Dam Square, on January 28, 2025. — AFP

"While I'm still young and have the energy, it's the perfect time to take action and make the most of it."

Snow slows travel

During the traditional 40-day period that runs before, during and after the Lunar New Year holidays in mainland China, about nine billion interprovincial passenger trips on all forms of transport are expected to be made.

Train and air travel are expected to "hit record highs" during this year's migration, Chinese news agency Xinhua said.

In South Korea, heavy snowfall caused disruption to train, plane and bus schedules nationwide, as people went to visit their families in the countryside this week.

Passengers were seen at Seoul's main train station carrying gifts wrapped in colourful cloth and luggage as they prepared to leave the capital.

People offer prayers at a shrine on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake in Bangkok on January 29, 2025. — AFP
People offer prayers at a shrine on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake in Bangkok on January 29, 2025. — AFP 

Images released by local media showed vehicles covered in snow stuck on South Korea's major highways as heavy winds and snowfall persisted.

Traffic authorities warned it could take more than seven hours on Tuesday to drive from Seoul to the country's port city of Busan, a journey that typically takes around four hours.

Many others opted to spend the break abroad. The operator of Incheon International Airport announced that more than 2.1 million passengers were expected to use the airport to travel overseas from January 24 to February 2.

"This is projected to be the highest average daily passenger count during the Lunar New Year holiday since the airport opened (in 2001)," the operator said in a statement.

The festivities even extended to space, with Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze sending New Year's Eve greetings from the Tiangong space station on Tuesday.

In a video released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the trio could be seen dressed in blue jumpsuits with traditional red cloud patterns, holding two pieces of paper-cutting featuring the Chinese character "fu", for good luck.

"In the new year, may all your dreams come true," Wang said, forming a heart shape above her head.