Taiwan’s New Year: A Heartfelt Celebration of Tears and Joy

Taipei
CNN
 — 

Harry Li never imagined that a virtual event he initiated to commemorate New Year’s Eve purely for amusement would turn into a widespread phenomenon.

Rather than conventional festivities that feature fireworks, live concerts, or parties, some individuals in Taiwan are joining the 22-year-old college student to welcome the arrival of 2025 in a unique manner — by weeping.

It all began in 2023 as a humorous jest on Facebook, with Li inviting people to gather at Da’an Forest Park in downtown Taipei – the city’s version of New York’s Central Park — on New Year’s Eve to cry for thirty minutes, referencing a scene from the famous Taiwanese film ”Vive L’Amour.”

Directed by Malaysia-born filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang, the film won the grand prize at the Venice International Film Festival in 1994. It depicts the lives of three urban dwellers grappling with the monotony, solitude, and disillusionment that many regarded as typical of city life in Taipei during the 1990s, a time of swift modernization and transformation.

In the scene that inspired Li to host the gathering, the female main character sits on a bench in an outdoor theater at Da’an Forest Park and breaks down in tears, crying for seven consecutive minutes, before lighting a cigarette and gazing into the distance.

However, what commenced as a prank soon caught attention, with almost 16,000 individuals expressing their desire to attend Li’s New Year’s Eve event. Hundreds arrived at the park to weep, laugh, drink, sing, dance, converse, and unwind, transforming the flash mob-style gathering into a vibrant celebration to welcome 2024.

“I never imagined people would genuinely turn up. I never thought it would gain widespread attention,” Li told CNN Travel.

He’s organizing it again this year, with more than 33,000 people already showing interest in participating. The Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute has hopped on the bandwagon, hosting an outdoor screening of ”Vive L’Amour” at the park, with the original cast joining the crowd to bid farewell to 2024, marking the 30th anniversary of the film’s debut.

CNN Travel conversed with several participants of the 2023-into-2024 gathering. They described the overall vibe as relaxed, inclusive, and spontaneous.

Attendees drank and shared meals. Some played music and danced along to the rhythm of the drums. Others took selfies capturing their crying expressions. Some seated themselves on benches, absorbing the experience. Those seeking an emotional outlet were given space to express themselves.

“I truly cried! I exhausted a pack of tissues while releasing all the negative experiences I faced this year,” Aster Chang, who participated in the event, shared on Facebook.

Chen Chu-yuan, a 27-year-old wine merchant, shed a few tears while reminiscing about a friend who had passed away unexpectedly.

“In that moment and location, if you cry, people would genuinely come and console you and not judge you,” Chen remarked to CNN Travel.

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Li mentions that witnessing individuals open up that evening made a significant impact on him.

“Individuals consumed beverages and conversed, and several disclosed their narratives,” he stated. “Everyone simply had a delightful experience.”

This is the reason Chen is returning this year.

“I experienced a profound bond at that moment; unfamiliar people uniting and connecting during those hours,” he expressed. “It was rather unique and touching.”

While spontaneity, eccentricity, and inventiveness contributed to cryathon’s popularity, it was the implicitly therapeutic message that genuinely struck a chord with those present – that it is acceptable to not feel ok, even during a celebratory occasion like New Year’s Eve.

Comparable to other parts of the globe, individuals in Taiwan typically revel in such events with partners, friends, or family. However, celebrations can be challenging for those who feel depressed or isolated, particularly with the ubiquity of social media.

“Envy and comparisons with others illustrate how prolonged engagement with social media correlates with adverse feelings,” Kang Ting-yu, an associate professor focused on gender and media studies at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, informed CNN Travel.

This is why this occasion has resonated with many, as it reinforces the notion that “there isn’t a standardized method of living and expressing emotions,” Chen added.

Li shared a similar perspective.

“Some might perceive that being single or alone during such events is rather pathetic,” he remarked. “But it’s acceptable to feel sad on New Year’s Eve. You are not obligated to feel happy on that day.”

In recent times, mental health challenges have garnered heightened global focus. Studies in Taiwan suggest that from 2010 to 2020, one in every four individuals aged between 30 and 45 exhibited signs of depression or anxiety, marking the highest occurrence among other age cohorts.

In response, Taiwan initiated a complimentary counseling initiative for individuals aged 15 to 30, which was subsequently broadened to assist those aged 31 to 45.

“In a rapidly evolving, fast-paced society, the government ought to allocate more resources toward mental health to protect the overall well-being of the populace,” Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stated in late November during a committee session centered on health.

For professor Chang Shu-sen, a researcher in suicide prevention and mental health at National Taiwan University, the event mirrors Taiwan’s growing emphasis on mental health, which is a positive advancement.

“Along with increasing awareness of the significance of mental health, we also require tangible methods for individuals to seek assistance and support others,” Chang told CNN Travel.

For Li, he is pleased that what originated as an entertaining social media post enabled individuals to release their emotions and had the unintended benefit of assisting others.

“For those who visited the park to genuinely cry, I hope they won’t have to do it again next year, and can celebrate a joyful New Year’s Eve,” Li remarks.

The Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute will present “Vive L’Amour” at Da’an Forest Park in Taipei on December 31, 2024, at 9:45 p.m.