some other celebrations around the island (which arent nearly as cool as shooting fireworks at people) is the Yehliu Divine Harbor Purification Festival (野柳神明淨港). the brave souls jump into the cold ocean to clear out the ghosts and demons, these days it has even attracted tourists

this celebration is one of the "home-grown" traditions in Taiwan which originated when an intact unmanned ship floated into the harbor around 1820 after a bad storm, no one was onboard and among the effects on the ship was a statue of the ocean god. Puzzled but wary that bodies may start washing ashore, the villagers went to the nearby shrine to ask what to do.

a tradition was born to utilize the gods of the land to bless the harbor to ward off bad spirits and wandering ghosts. The remains of the ship was even made into parts of the shrine.

The celebration consists of bringing statues of the god into the water and then walk across fire on the way back (to scare off the bad spirits that might have hitched a ride in the water, duh 😂)

the mix of cultures in Taiwan makes lunar new year celebrations a lot of fun (and confusing). supernatural occurences made into traditions are a common occurence in Taiwanese culture