Asians Celebrate Another Lunar New Year under Pandemic Restrictions
2022-02-01
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1People across Asia prepared Monday to celebrate another Lunar New Year under restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2The Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, February 1.
3 It is the most important holiday in China.
4Each year it is named after one of twelve signs of the country's traditional zodiac system.
5This year, 2022, is the Year of the Tiger.
6The holiday historically marks the world's largest yearly movement of people.
7Before the pandemic, hundreds of millions of Chinese traveled home for Lunar New Year break.
8Many of them are workers in cities who go back to their home villages.
9But it will be the third straight year that people celebrate the holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10In 2020, Chinese officials ordered a lockdown in Wuhan, China, just two days before Lunar New Year.
11Wuhan is the central city where the first cases of the new coronavirus were discovered.
12Currently, about 85 percent of Chinese are fully vaccinated, the online research website Our World in Data reports.
13This has led to more people traveling within China this year, even though the government has issued warnings against it.
14This year, many Chinese were buying traditional supplies to celebrate at home.
15About 260 million people traveled in China during the first 10 days of the Lunar New Year holiday season that started January 17.
16That is fewer than before the pandemic, but up 46 percent over last year.
17Overall, the government estimates 1.2 billion trips will be made during the holiday period, up 36 percent from 2021.
18A 63-year-old retiree from Beijing, Huang Ping, spoke to The Associated Press while shopping at a flower market.
19He said he thinks the New Year's "atmosphere has faded" with the closure of religious centers and festivals because of COVID-19 restrictions.
20But Huang said he hoped for better times in the new year.
21"I wish for the (pandemic) to pass as early as possible and for the economy to recover as well," he said.
22Another Chinese retiree, 62-year-old Han Guiha, told the AP he was planning on making the best of the situation.
23"I'll stay at home enjoying good food and wine," Han said.
24"I will make my house clean and beautiful. Right now, the virus is spreading and we need to be careful."
25Chen Lianshan is a Beijing University expert on Chinese folklore.
26He said that with the Year of the Tiger, many people are hoping the traditional powers linked to the animal will help put the country on a path out of the pandemic.
27The tiger represents "a protection against evil spirits and it can defeat demons and ghosts of all kinds..." Chen said.
28Elsewhere in Asia, there were signs that some celebrations might not be as restricted as last year.
29In many nations, most people are now vaccinated with at least two shots against COVID-19.
30In the old quarter of Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, people shopped over the weekend for traditional supplies for the New Year festival, known locally as Tet.
31Officials canceled Tet fireworks and other large events in an effort to reduce virus spread.
32In Thailand, officials in Bangkok decided not to hold traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown for the second straight year.
33But another event, the city's traditional lighting of lanterns, will take place.
34About 69 percent of Thais are fully vaccinated.
35In Singapore, officials ordered restrictions on the number of visitors that people can welcome each day.
36In Taiwan, business was strong at a flower market in Taipei on Monday as people made last-minute shopping trips.
37An estimated 73 percent of Taiwanese are fully vaccinated.
38A shopkeeper in Taipei named Lee told the AP the pandemic "is surely affecting" Lunar New Year celebrations.
39But, he added, "people still like flowers, so they come out and buy flowers."
40I'm Bryan Lynn.
1People across Asia prepared Monday to celebrate another Lunar New Year under restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2The Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, February 1. It is the most important holiday in China. Each year it is named after one of twelve signs of the country's traditional zodiac system. This year, 2022, is the Year of the Tiger. 3The holiday historically marks the world's largest yearly movement of people. Before the pandemic, hundreds of millions of Chinese traveled home for Lunar New Year break. Many of them are workers in cities who go back to their home villages. 4But it will be the third straight year that people celebrate the holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Chinese officials ordered a lockdown in Wuhan, China, just two days before Lunar New Year. Wuhan is the central city where the first cases of the new coronavirus were discovered. 5Currently, about 85 percent of Chinese are fully vaccinated, the online research website Our World in Data reports. This has led to more people traveling within China this year, even though the government has issued warnings against it. This year, many Chinese were buying traditional supplies to celebrate at home. 6About 260 million people traveled in China during the first 10 days of the Lunar New Year holiday season that started January 17. That is fewer than before the pandemic, but up 46 percent over last year. Overall, the government estimates 1.2 billion trips will be made during the holiday period, up 36 percent from 2021. 7A 63-year-old retiree from Beijing, Huang Ping, spoke to The Associated Press while shopping at a flower market. He said he thinks the New Year's "atmosphere has faded" with the closure of religious centers and festivals because of COVID-19 restrictions. 8But Huang said he hoped for better times in the new year. "I wish for the (pandemic) to pass as early as possible and for the economy to recover as well," he said. 9Another Chinese retiree, 62-year-old Han Guiha, told the AP he was planning on making the best of the situation. "I'll stay at home enjoying good food and wine," Han said. "I will make my house clean and beautiful. Right now, the virus is spreading and we need to be careful." 10Chen Lianshan is a Beijing University expert on Chinese folklore. He said that with the Year of the Tiger, many people are hoping the traditional powers linked to the animal will help put the country on a path out of the pandemic. The tiger represents "a protection against evil spirits and it can defeat demons and ghosts of all kinds..." Chen said. 11Elsewhere in Asia, there were signs that some celebrations might not be as restricted as last year. In many nations, most people are now vaccinated with at least two shots against COVID-19. 12In the old quarter of Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, people shopped over the weekend for traditional supplies for the New Year festival, known locally as Tet. Officials canceled Tet fireworks and other large events in an effort to reduce virus spread. 13In Thailand, officials in Bangkok decided not to hold traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown for the second straight year. But another event, the city's traditional lighting of lanterns, will take place. About 69 percent of Thais are fully vaccinated. 14In Singapore, officials ordered restrictions on the number of visitors that people can welcome each day. 15In Taiwan, business was strong at a flower market in Taipei on Monday as people made last-minute shopping trips. An estimated 73 percent of Taiwanese are fully vaccinated. 16A shopkeeper in Taipei named Lee told the AP the pandemic "is surely affecting" Lunar New Year celebrations. But, he added, "people still like flowers, so they come out and buy flowers." 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 20_____________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22fade - v. to slowly disappear, lose importance or become weaker 23wine - n. an alcoholic drink made from the juice of grapes 24folklore - n. the traditional stories and culture of a group of people 25demon - n. an evil spirit 26ghost - n. the spirit of a dead person 27lantern - n. a light inside a container that has a handle for carrying it or hanging it up