South Korea 南韓
In South Korea Lunar New Year is called Soel. Like in Taiwan, no one sleeps on New Year's eve. It is thought that if you do, your eyebrows will turn white. All the lights in the house must be kept on to welcome in the New Year.
Bamboo sticks are burnt in the house on New Year's eve. The cracking when the knots in the bamboo burn scares away the evil spirits of the old year. Just like in Taiwan, people wear new clothes on New Year's day — but they are normally the traditional costumes called han bok.
PHOTO: EPA
Everyone drinks a glass of a special liquor, gui balki sool, that is thought to help you hear clearly all year long. Families enjoy activities such as kite flying and the traditional Korean game yut, which is played with four wooden sticks. The game dates back to the first century.
Say Hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh!
南韓農曆新年叫「soel」。跟台灣一樣，除夕夜每個人都會守夜，據說若睡著眉毛會變白，屋內所有燈都得開著迎接新年。
除夕夜南韓人會在屋內燒竹枝，竹節燃燒時的爆裂聲能嚇走舊年的惡靈。南韓人也像台灣一樣，人人新年穿新衣，不過他們通常穿的是傳統韓服「han bok」。
每個韓國人都會喝一杯特別的烈酒「gui balki sool」，據說能幫助整年聽覺靈敏。家家戶戶都喜歡放風箏，玩一種自一世紀流傳至今，以四根特別木棒進行的傳統遊戲「尤茨」。
（翻譯：鄭湘儀）
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition marked by disruptions in brain-signaling that causes people to behave, communicate, interact and learn in atypical ways. Autism diagnoses in the US have increased significantly since 2000, intensifying public concern over what might contribute to its prevalence. Here is what you need to know. HOW IS AUTISM DIAGNOSED? There are no objective tools for diagnosing autism, such as blood tests or brain scans. Instead, diagnoses are made based on observations and interviews. The term “spectrum” reflects the wide range of possible manifestations. Some people with ASD might have good conversation skills, while others might
Every February, the small town of Ptuj in Slovenia comes alive with the vibrant celebration of its famous carnival. This festival, with its deep historical roots, is a cherished tradition where local residents come together to ward off the winter cold and embrace the arrival of spring. Participants dress up in furry costumes, transforming into kurenti, mythical monsters believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune for the new year. Although the exact origins of the Ptuj carnival remain a mystery, it is firmly rooted in ancient Slavic and Illyrian cultures. The modern form of the carnival
A: When is the Lantern Festival? B: The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, which fell on Feb. 12 this year. A: Oh no! Did I miss the 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival? B: Yes, you did. But you can still go to the 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taoyuan, which will run until this Sunday. A: Let’s go admire the exuberant lanterns. A: 元宵節到底是哪一天？ B: 就是農曆1月15日啊，今年則落在國曆2月12日。 A: 喔不，我是不是錯過了2025台北燈節？ B: 是的，但你還可以去桃園的2025台灣燈會，活動將持續至週日。 A: 那我們去欣賞豐富的花燈秀吧！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
In early September 2024, Time magazine released its list of the “100 Most Influential People in AI 2024,” and among the prominent figures are three Taiwanese entrepreneurs. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) Chair and CEO Lisa Su were each featured. The list, divided into four categories—Leaders, Innovators, Shapers, and Thinkers—highlights what sets these individuals apart from their peers in the field of artificial intelligence. Both Wei and Huang were placed in the Leaders category, joining the heads of Google, OpenAI, Meta, and Microsoft. Wei
RSS