At the start of each year, the Chinese New Year immerses people of all ages in 15 days of celebrations rooted in ancient traditions. Find out which zodiac animal will dominate 2025 and learn all about this unique event.
At the end of January, Chinese communities around the globe will usher in a new lunar year with the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. This event is deeply symbolic, tracing its origins to ancient agricultural traditions. Initially, it marked the transition to spring and symbolized hopes for prosperous harvests. Today, this lunar celebration continues to bring together Chinese communities through age-old traditions and a new zodiac animal, celebrated over 15 days of festivities culminating in the Lantern Festival.
When is the Chinese New Year in 2025?
This year, the Chinese New Year starts on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 and ends fifteen days later with the Lantern Festival, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
What is the Chinese New Year animal for 2025?
Following the Year of the Dragon in 2024, 2025 will be the Year of the Wood Snake. In Chinese culture, the Snake is associated with wisdom, creativity, and reflection. It represents the ability to deeply analyze situations, exercise caution, and come up with clever solutions. The Wood element adds a layer of growth and renewal, making the Wood Snake a symbol of balanced intelligence and resilience in facing challenges.
Why does the Chinese New Year last 15 days?
According to tradition, the Chinese New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice and lasts for 15 days, up to the first full moon, marking the day of the Lantern Festival. During this period, festivities honor deities and aim to expel the negative energies of the past year to start anew under better auspices. In China, it is also the longest holiday period of the year.
What are the traditions of the Chinese New Year?
If you find yourself in a country or city neighborhood celebrating the Chinese New Year, you’ll witness numerous traditions. Streets and homes are decorated in red. Dinner features symbolic dishes followed by the exchange of red envelopes containing money or wishes. Firecrackers, fireworks, and dragon and lion dances enliven the festivities.
Craft Activities for the Chinese New Year
To keep children engaged and involved in the preparations for the Chinese New Year, Hugo the snail offers various craft activities and coloring pages themed around the Chinese New Year. Make a dragon from toilet paper rolls, cut out dragon heads, print Chinese New Year calendars, or even create a lantern-making workshop… Find all our craft ideas for kids and adults:
Our Decorating Tips for the Chinese New Year
Decorating your home is a customary part of the Chinese New Year. Here are all our decorating tips:
What do we eat for the Chinese New Year?
The Chinese New Year meal, or “Spring Banquet”, is shared with family and features symbolic dishes to bring luck and prosperity. Fish, a sign of abundance, is essential, often accompanied by noodles for longevity. Chinese fondue, Peking duck, caramel pork, jiaozi dumplings, and spring rolls are often part of the menu.
For dessert, fruits like tangerines symbolize health and happiness. The traditional Nian gao cake, sometimes with nougats or fortune cookies, is also featured, with leftovers seen as a sign of upcoming success.
What is the Lantern Festival?
The Lantern Festival, also known as the “little New Year”, concludes the festivities of the Chinese New Year. During this festival, the Chinese gather with family or friends to eat yuanxiao, stuffed rice balls served in a soup whose round shape symbolizes family unity. In the evening, they take to the streets with lanterns in hand to view the moon, admire fireworks, and solve riddles written on the lanterns.
During the day, various dances and stilt-walking events are also organized. This custom dates back to the time of Emperor Qin Shihuang, who unified China around 3 centuries BCE. Lantern riddles appeared later during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
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