Chinese New Year 2025: Year of the Snake Begins January 29

BEIJING, China — Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, will usher in the Year of the Snake on January 29, 2025. This vibrant cultural holiday, celebrated by millions worldwide, marks the beginning of a new lunar year and is steeped in traditions of family reunions, feasts, and symbolic rituals.

Based on the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year, typically between January 21 and February 20. In 2025, the festivities will run from January 29 to February 12, with the first seven days designated as an official public holiday. The celebration culminates in the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the lunar year.

The Year of the Snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle, symbolizes intelligence, grace, and intuition. Those born under this sign are often seen as independent and resilient, capable of overcoming challenges with determination. The zodiac cycle, which repeats every 12 years, assigns an animal to each year, with the snake following the Year of the Dragon in 2024.

Chinese New Year traditions include family gatherings, feasts, and the exchange of red envelopes containing money for good luck. The holiday also emphasizes honoring ancestors and seeking blessings for the year ahead. Vibrant parades, fireworks, and lantern displays are central to the celebrations, symbolizing the end of winter and the hope for a prosperous spring.

In China, fireworks and firecrackers are a staple of Lunar New Year festivities, rooted in the ancient belief that loud noises scare away evil spirits, particularly the mythical monster Nian. However, some cities have imposed bans on fireworks due to pollution and safety concerns.

Across the United States, Asian communities in states like California and New York host grand celebrations. Los Angeles’ Golden Dragon Parade attracts over 100,000 spectators annually, while Monterey Park reflects on past tragedies while embracing the spirit of renewal.

In South Korea, the holiday, known as Seollal, is marked by family reunions, ancestral rituals, and traditional games like Yut Nori. In South Africa, the Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple in Bronkhorstspruit becomes a hub of festivities, featuring dragon dances and traditional attire.

Indonesia blends Chinese and local traditions during Lunar New Year, with events like the Grebeg Sudiro festival in Semarang and Solo. In London, the Chinatown Chinese Association organizes a grand parade at Trafalgar Square, complete with dragon dances, martial arts, and food stalls.

Chinese New Year is a global celebration, uniting diverse cultures through shared traditions of joy, reflection, and hope for a prosperous year ahead.