regional customs
Chinese around the world welcome the Year of the Rabbit
Rabbit pendants attached to Chinese lanterns are for sale at a shop in Bangkok’s Chinatown. photo
© Matt Hunt/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The tiger is followed by the rabbit, which in Chinese mythology stands for harmony and longevity. How is the year in the mon calendar?
Chinese around the world welcomed the new year according to the traditional lunar calendar. The Year of the Rabbit follows the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese mythology, the fourth of the twelve signs of the zodiac stands for harmony and longevity, among other things. In China, the turn of the year took place on Sunday night (local time).
It is the first New Year since the communist government in Beijing lifted the strict corona measures. Millions of families can get together in person this weekend for the first time in three years. The authorities expected almost two billion passenger trips during the 40-day travel season, which corresponds to around 70 percent of the travel volume compared to the time before the pandemic.
Despite the celebratory mood in the country, the Chinese New Year is once again overshadowed by the pandemic. While the corona situation in the large metropolises such as Beijing and Shanghai has largely returned to normal after a rapid wave of infections in December, the endurance test in the hinterland provinces is still to come.
In comparison, the healthcare system there is only rudimentarily developed, and hospitals with modern equipment are often several hours’ drive away. At the same time, rural areas are predominantly populated by older population groups who have so far only had inadequate vaccination protection in China: According to Chinese state media, a quarter of those over 60 are still not boosted.
The London-based research institute Airfinity expects that the current corona wave could peak in the coming week with up to 36,000 deaths per day. Such forecasts are in stark contrast to the official information from the Chinese state media, which deliberately downplays the dramatic situation.
The authorities have also launched a censorship campaign to combat “dark emotions” and “rumors” about the Corona situation on social media. No negative headlines should spoil the festive mood of the Chinese when they welcome the Year of the Rabbit.