TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Handing out red envelopes (紅包) during the Lunar New Year is a key Chinese tradition, with red symbolizing vitality, joy, auspiciousness, and good luck.

Taiwan's National Palace Museum invited calligraphers to craft red spring couplets in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The decorations are said to bring good fortune and festive cheer.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) gave his first Lunar New Year speech on Monday, urging social unity to advance the country. In a video, Lai thanked citizens for their efforts over the past year, which enabled Taiwan to take on a more significant role internationally,

After his design for the year of the dragon in 2024, the artist James Jean has hooked up with Diageo's Scotch whisky The Johnnie Walker Blue Label again to create a limited-edition label and packaging design to mark the lunar new year and the start of the year of the snake.

As the Year of the Snake approaches, a pet store in Taipei is offering adventurous customers an opportunity to enjoy the company of snakes while sipping coffee, hoping to break down some of the prejudice against the animal.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with aclose encounter at this Taiwan pet store:: Luo Chih-yu, Owner, Pythonism"I provide a space for people to try and experience snakes, finding out whether they like them without any prejudice.

Snakes can be seen at Pythonism, a pet store, that offers customers an opportunity to enjoy the company of snakes while sipping coffee, ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year, which will usher in the Year of the Snake, in Taipei, Taiwan January 23, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Train stations and airports across China saw the biggest peak in travelers yesterday ahead of the Lunar New Year, as millions of people returned home to spend the holidays with their families in an annual migration that is expected to be a record. The Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, begins on Wednesday.

As the Lunar Year of the Snake approaches, a pet store in Taipei is offering adventurous customers an opportunity to enjoy the company of snakes while sipping coffee, hoping to break down some of the prejudice against the animal.

In Phoenix, the 35th annual Phoenix Chinese Week Lunar New Year Festival at Steele Indian School Park is the city’s biggest celebration.

In the Emirates Lounge in Singapore, customers can celebrate the day with unique Lunar New Year dishes such as juicy king prawns infused with fragrant soya, pan-fried duck with lemon sauce, or orange almond crumble cake, with oranges symbolizing good fortune in Chinese cultures.

As we usher in the Year of the Wood Snake, it's time to embrace transformation and resilience – not just in life, but in the way we store and secure our digital memories. To celebrate this Lunar New Year,