TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An event themed "It's okay not to be happy on New Year's Eve" was held at Taipei's Daan Park Wednesday, attracting a large crowd.
“Crying while counting down at Daan Park on New Year's Eve” originated online. Czech media outlet Novinky described it as “possibly the world's most unique New Year's celebration,” per CNA.
In 2023, netizen Lee Ssu-han (李思翰) launched the event as a tribute to the film “Love L’Amour” which explores themes of loneliness and disillusionment in 1990s Taipei. The movie features a scene where the female protagonist cries for seven minutes on a park bench.
Lee relaunched the event last year on Facebook as a joke, but it quickly attracted a large crowd. On New Year's Eve, many gathered for what was dubbed "perhaps the world's most unusual" New Year's celebration, coming together to "cry collectively."
Lee did not expect the event to become so popular. The Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute also held a 30th-anniversary outdoor screening of the “Love L’Amour,” inviting its lead actors to celebrate with the audience.
Several past participants shared their experiences, with sounds of both crying and laughter as people came together to share food in a relaxed atmosphere. One participant wrote on social media that all the unpleasant events of the year flowed away with their tears, while another reflected on a recently deceased friend.
Organizers expressed being moved by how quickly strangers formed connections and supported each other, highlighting that the event’s spontaneity and creativity were crucial to its success. They added that more importantly, the message “it's okay not to be happy” resonated, whether on New Year's Eve or any other day.
