Many Chinese across the world went to temples on February 14—the first day of the Year of the Tiger. They lit incense and prayed for good lives. Temples in Beijing and Taipei alike were filled with worshipers.
Baiyun Temple, Beijing’s famous Taoist temple, opened as usual at 5 a.m. on Chinese New Year’s Day. Visitors poured in at the rate of 3,000 per hour. A report on China News Service said there had been 16,000 people by 10:30 a.m.
Visitors at the Baiyun Temple touched the famous “stone monkey” to ward off evil spirits and have illnesses healed. Others threw a coin through the eye of a copper bell—a ring of the bell would signal a prosperous new year.
Yonghegong (or Yonghe Temple), the famous Tibetan Lama Temple in Beijing, reported about 20,000 visitors by 10:30 a.m.
Yonghegong (or Yonghe Temple), the famous Tibetan Lama Temple in Beijing, reported about 20,000 visitors by 10:30 a.m.
Praying at temples on the New Year has been a longstanding tradition in Taiwan, and this year was no exception. Many Taiwanese visited Taipei’s Lungshan Temple, Hsing Tien Temple, and others on February 14.
Taiwan’s president Ma Ying-jeou also visited two temples in Chiayi County to light incense and pray for Taiwan’s future. He gave out 8,000 Red Envelopes with wrapped chocolate to supporters who waited in line.
What about Valentine’s Day?
Chinese New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day fell on the same day this year—a rare event that happens only once every 57 years.
A statistical survey conducted in Taiwan found that when it came to choosing which holiday to celebrate, 43 percent chose family over a sweetheart, 14.7 percent chose the sweetheart, and 31 percent chose both. A similar survey of 2,000 Chinese netizens, conducted by Sohu.com, found that 90 percent chose to be with family.
Those choices were reflected in sales of Valentine’s Day merchandise which dropped 20 to 30 percent in Taiwan this year.
