Some cheer and toast to welcome the New Year. In Taiwan, people cry their eyes out

Harry Lee initially created an online New Year's Eve event just for fun, but it unexpectedly became a trending topic. Unlike traditional celebrations with fireworks, concerts, or parties, some people in Taiwan are choosing to join this 22-year-old college student in an unusual way to welcome 2025 – by crying.

It all began in 2023 when Lee made a lighthearted joke on Facebook, calling for people to go to "Daan Forest Park" in downtown Taipei (the equivalent of New York's Central Park) on New Year's Eve and cry for half an hour, paying homage to a scene in the Taiwanese film "Vive L'Amour." This film, directed by Malaysian-Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang, won the top prize at the 1994 Venice International Film Festival and depicts the ennui, loneliness, and disillusionment experienced by three young urbanites during Taipei's rapid modernization and transformation in the 1990s.

In the scene that inspired Lee to create this event, the female protagonist sits on a bench in the Daan Forest Park amphitheater, cries loudly for seven minutes, then lights a cigarette and stares into space. However, this joke quickly gained widespread attention, with nearly 16,000 users expressing interest in attending Lee's New Year's Eve event. Hundreds of people came to the park to cry, laugh, drink, sing, dance, chat, and release stress, turning this flash mob gathering into a colorful celebration to welcome 2024.

Lee said in an interview with CNN Travel, "I never thought people would actually come. I never thought it would go viral." This year, he is hosting the event again, and over 33,000 people have already expressed interest in participating. The Taiwan Film Institute has also joined in, hosting an outdoor screening of "Vive L'Amour" in the park, and the original cast will also join the crowd to bid farewell to 2024 and commemorate the film's 30th anniversary.

CNN Travel interviewed several people who participated in the 2023 New Year's Eve event. They described the overall atmosphere as free, equal, and spontaneous. People drank, shared food, some played music and danced to the beat, while others took selfies with crying faces. Some sat on benches, immersed in the moment. Those who needed emotional release were also given the space to do so. "I really cried! I used up a pack of tissues crying, and vented all the bad things that happened this year," wrote Esther Chang, a participant, on Facebook.

Chen Chu-yuan, a 27-year-old wine salesperson, also shed tears when thinking about a friend who had suddenly passed away. "At that time and place, if you cried, people would actually come to comfort you instead of judging you," Chen said in an interview with CNN Travel. Lee said he was impressed by seeing people open up that night. "People were drinking and chatting, and some were sharing their stories," he said. "Everyone had a lot of fun." This is also why Chen is participating again this year. "I felt a huge connection at the time; strangers came together and connected in those few hours," he said. "It's very rare, and it's touching."

While spontaneity, quirkiness, and creativity have made the crying marathon popular, what truly resonates with attendees is its implicit message of catharsis—that it's okay to feel unwell, even on a holiday like New Year's Eve. Similar to the rest of the world, Taiwanese people tend to enjoy such occasions with dates, friends, or family. But for those who feel depressed or lonely, celebrations can be tough, especially in the age of social media. "Jealousy and comparing oneself to others are ways that prolonged social media use is associated with negative emotions," said Kang Ting-yu, an associate professor of gender and media studies at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, in an interview with CNN Travel.

This is why the event has resonated with so many people, as it affirms the view that "there is no one-size-fits-all way to live and express emotions," Chen added. Lee expressed a similar sentiment. "Some people might feel it's pathetic to be single or alone on such an occasion," he said. "But it's okay to feel sad on New Year's Eve. You don't have to be happy on that day."

In recent years, mental health issues have received increasing attention worldwide. In Taiwan, studies have shown that between 2010 and 2020, one in four people aged 30 to 45 exhibited signs of depression or anxiety, the highest prevalence among all age groups. To address this, Taiwan launched a free counseling program for people aged 15 to 30, which was later expanded to support those aged 31 to 45. "In a rapidly changing, fast-paced society, the government should invest more resources in the field of mental health to safeguard the overall well-being of the people," said Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te at a health-focused committee meeting in late November.

For Professor Chang Shu-sen, a researcher in suicide prevention and mental health at National Taiwan University, the event reflects Taiwan's growing attention to mental health, which is a welcome development. "In addition to raising awareness about the importance of mental health, we also need concrete ways for people to seek help and help others," Chang said in an interview with CNN Travel. For Lee, he is happy that what was initially just a fun social media post has allowed people to release stress and unexpectedly helped others. "For those who came to the park to really cry, I hope they don't have to do it again next year and can enjoy a happy New Year's Eve," Lee said.