February 17, 2025
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From Beijing to Havana, Kuala Lumpur to Moscow, the world erupted in celebration as the Year of the Snake slithered in, bringing firecrackers, lion dances, and wishes for prosperity.

In Beijing, temple fairs were packed with revelers tossing coins for luck and snapping photos with the God of Wealth, while firecrackers crackled outside Kuala Lumpur’s Guan Di temple. In Hong Kong, devotees lined up at Wong Tai Sin temple, eager to be the first to offer incense at midnight.

For many, the Lunar New Year is a time to reconnect—China’s annual holiday migration turns megacities into ghost towns as workers return home for family feasts. Others take advantage of the break to travel, with Japan, Thailand, and the U.S. among top destinations.

Even Moscow embraced the festivities, kicking off a 10-day celebration with parades and dragon dances.

While some lament a fading holiday spirit, families like Beijing’s Wang Xinxin still find magic in temple fairs: “Children today don’t know what New Year used to be like, but here, they can still feel it.”

The Year of the Snake is here—bringing hope, renewal, and a fresh start.