Three years after a previously mysterious virus swept the Chinese city of Wuhan is in a terrifying lockdown, residents on preached on Saturday evening in New year according to traditional Lunar calendar celebrated arrival of the year of the rabbit with Fireworks, flowers and performances for loved ones lost to COVID-19.
However, while many stocks up Saturday on Colorful blooms in the bustling flowerpot market To welcome the Lunar New Year and enjoy In the Spring Festival, others had a more sad reason: mourn the loss of loved ones in latest wave of cases.
“I have friends and family who Passed away during this time ‘a 54year-old or older who I will only give Zhang told Agence France-Presse, his nickname, as he held up a set of Chrysanthemums that symbolize sadness in Chinese culture.
He explained that New Year’s Day in hubei province, of Which is Wuhan is the capital of visit homes of people who recently died to give Flowers and burning incense as an offering.
in stroke of Midnight, many residents did just This is like street Sellers did quickly business of Sell chrysanthemums and other offerings early hours of Sunday.
At the same time, fireworks and sparklers popped and sparkled in Darkness despite the prohibition in place.
Beijing government Strictly lifted zeroCorona virus disease policy in December, but boom in infection swept the country, killing thousands.
Wuhan, metropolis on banks of The Yangtze River has now become a synonym with COVID-19, about first cases in Late 2019 of What was then an unknown killer virus.
The authorities imposed a strict lockdown just Two days before the year of the mouse in Late January 2020 to stop the spread of virus.
deprived of New Year’s Eve celebrations, its 11 million residents were cut off off from world for 76 days while Wuhan became the epicenter of An epidemic that has become relentless global.
I love Wuhan
On Saturday, few hours Before arrival of New Year, and city Apparently it was back back to normal and standby up for The festival that is necessary family gathering of the year.
Colorful lanterns and banners decorate the cityJianghan business district, and banner with “I love Wuhan” heart read.
An older man struggled to pedal his loaded bike with Packages and food, while a couple with Little boy riding a motorbike on they way back from shops.
“Of course, it is way Better after opening up”,” one Women, who give her last Zhu’s name, told AFP she is buying flowers for decoration. Now that everyone has contracted COVID-19 alreadyWe can get a file good Chinese New Year. So this makes us very happy “.
After years of struggle business It is in the end back on a path for Florists.
“In the start of the year with COVID-19, we had no business, said Ms. Liu, a businesswoman in She is in her sixties. “Now that we’ve opened our doors, we have more business. “
Another seller, from last The name was Tao, and he was putting on the finishing touches on floral arrangement.
“During COVID-19, there were very few people Buy flowers, but in these few years, a lot people They died from COVID-19, so our sales for She said that the chrysanthemums were very tall. “We didn’t sell any flowers we had during the lockdown year of COVID-19. So we threw them all away.”
