A video is being widely shared on social media in which a long line of firecrackers going off on a street, erupting in colours, can be seen.
The video is shared with a caption claiming that it shows people celebrating Holi in China.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “This is how Hindus in China celebrate Holi. While considering one particular group mentally ill all.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is misleading. The video shows celebrations for the Chinese New Year.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by an Instagram user on February 16, 2025. The caption associated with the image read, “The sixteenth day of the first lunar month.”
We found another video uploaded by an Instagram user on February 16, 2025, with a caption that stated, “Oh, the incredible Chaozhou Spring Festival.” The video was taken from a different angle.
We found another YouTube channel with the same video whose caption reads, “The sixteenth day of the first lunar month.”
Since Holi in India was celebrated on March 14, 2025, the viral video was old.
We further found that the same video was uploaded by a Facebook page on February 13, 2025, with a caption which when translated in English, reads, “Chaoshan Old Street celebrates Lantern Festival.”
We also found that the video was shared by a YouTube channel on February 14, 2025, with a caption that reads, “Hello friends, I am Xiaoan Traveling around China. I am a self-media practitioner and a photography enthusiast. I record the beauty of the journey and share the cultural landscape of the journey. Subscription link: Welcome to subscribe to my channel!”
We further found a report published by the Associated Press on February 13, 2025. According to the report, Taiwan and China celebrated the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the Lunar New Year period. In Taiwan, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival saw thousands releasing paper lanterns into the night sky, symbolising hopes for peace and prosperity. The event featured music, dance performances, and waves of lantern releases, including snake-shaped lanterns honouring the Year of the Snake. In Beijing, residents enjoyed light shows and traditional glutinous rice dumplings, with the Beijing Garden Expo Park showcasing over 10,000 installations, some towering at 60 feet, depicting cultural landmarks and symbols.
