Lunar New Year celebrations kick off in many Asian countries. From China to Indonesia, from Vietnam to Korea, the arrival of the Year of the Tiger is greeted. An appointment that falls on February 1 this year and like the last few is celebrated on the sly due to concerns about the coronavirus and the spread of the virulent omicron variant, even if the increase in vaccination rates in the Far East fuels hopes that in the new year life may return to normal. The holiday period, which is also called the Spring Festival in China, lasts 15 days and will end with the Lantern Festival on February 15th.
The tiger, which is the third of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, symbolizes boldness, vigor and strength with which to ward off evil and bring luck and peace. The others are: the mouse, the buffalo, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig. The Tiger’s last year had been 1962.
Yesterday during Sunday prayer the Pope’s wish arrived from the Vatican: “”May the new year everyone enjoy peace, health and a peaceful and secure life”. Today the wish from space by Chinese astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu who decorated the central module of the Tianhe space station with traditional ornaments and the Chinese character “Fu” which represents happiness.
