Holiday Traditions in China and Ukraine Offer Comfort During Uncertain Times
Holiday Traditions in China and Ukraine Offer Comfort During Uncertain Times
A lantern show in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu province, ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit. This year the holiday falls amid a massive COVID surge and an economic slump. STR/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A lantern show in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu province, ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit. This year the holiday falls amid a massive COVID surge and an economic slump.
STR/AFP via Getty ImagesIn China, huge numbers of people are expected to travel and gather with family this weekend for the start of the Lunar New Year, just as the country experiences a major surge in COVID infections.
NPR's Emily Feng reports that the holiday may be bittersweet for some. We also hear reporting from NPR's Wynne Davis, who collected recipes to help ring in the Lunar New Year.
And in Ukraine, many Orthodox Christians marked the feast of the Epiphany on Thursday by plunging into the frigid waters of the Dnipro River. NPR's Elissa Nadworny talked to some of the brave swimmers, who said that this year the ritual felt like a needed respite from the ongoing war.
In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, Wynne Davis, Taylor Haney and Lauren Migaki. It was edited by Vincent Ni, Taylor Haney, William Troop and Mallory Yu. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.