Celebrations for Year of the Tiger are muted, but bring hope

People across Asia prepared Monday for muted Lunar New Year celebrations amid concerns over the coronavirus and virulent omicron variant, even as increasing vaccination rates raised hopes that the Year of the Tiger might bring life back closer to normal.

The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China and falls on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Each year is named after one of twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle. The Year of the Tiger follows the Year of the Ox.

This will be the third new year in a row celebrated in the shadow of the pandemic. It was two days before the holiday in 2020 that China locked down Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, following the detection of the coronavirus there.

Some 85% of Chinese are now fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data, and more Chinese have been traveling domestically this year, despite government warnings. Many people prepare to celebrate by buying red lanterns and other decorations for their homes, and food to mark the beginning of a new year.

Still, 63-year-old retiree Huang Ping lamented as he shopped at a Beijing flower market that the new year's "atmosphere has faded" with the closure of temples and seasonal fairs to prevent large crowds. He said he hoped for better times soon.

"I wish for the epidemic to pass as early as possible and for the economy to recover as well," he said.

Another retiree, Han Guiha, said he was planning on making the best of the situation.

"I'll stay at home enjoying good food and wine," the 62-year-old said. "I will make my house clean and beautiful. Right now the virus is spreading and we need to be careful."

Some 260 million people traveled in China in the first 10 days of the holiday rush starting Jan...