Do you want to continue celebrating the New Year? Then it’s worth adding Chinese New Year to your schedule, following the example of 20% of the world’s population. Read more about the Chinese New Year and its traditions below.
We recently made a selection of the coolest New Year traditions in various countries. But some states celebrate this holiday according to a different schedule. For example, Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, will begin to be celebrated on January 29 in 2025; in China, this holiday is celebrated as follows: We have collected the most important information about this celebration: from customs and attributes to traditional dishes and gifts.
Chinese New Year: A Brief history
The year 2025 will be 4723 for China according to the current calendar. The bill goes from the moment when the country was led by the legendary ruler Huang Di. Then it was an occasion to celebrate the harvest and worship the gods. Today it is more of a family holiday, when everyone goes to their relatives and celebrate the new year together.
It is worth noting that the Chinese also celebrate the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, but modestly. However, the main holiday for the Chinese people is the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival (Chunjie); it is written in Chinese as 春节. By the way, the name is quite true: it is at the end of January and February that the first spring warmth comes to China.
Local legend has it that on the day of the beginning of the lunar new year, a Nyan comes ashore from the sea — a huge monster with a long horned head that devours all the supplies of people. It is believed that earlier during his arrival, the Chinese from coastal villages fled their homes in fear and hid in caves.
This went on until an old man came up with various amulets against the monster: he began to paste red pieces of paper on all the doors, set fire to bamboo, and dressed himself in red clothes. Nian was afraid of these attributes and did not come back. Therefore, the Chinese still observe these traditions.
When does the Chinese New Year begin
The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, and it changes every year. The first day of the new year always falls on the new moon between January 21st and February 20th.
In 2025, the Chinese New Year will come on January 29,and it will be celebrated for 15 days, until February 12. By the way, this is the longest-running holiday in East Asian countries.
Every day has its own meaning and objectives. See the detailed calendar with dates and events here.
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Chinese New Year: “totemic” animals
According to the Chinese calendar, every new year is associated with a certain animal sign. There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac calendar (Oriental horoscope).
Here are all 12 zodiac signs:
- Rat
- Bull
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Goat
- A monkey
- Cock
- Dog
- Pig
Since this cycle repeats every 12 years, it’s easy to determine if this is your year — just check if your age is a multiple of 12.
Colors and elements also change: yellow, white, green, red; earth, metal, water, wood, fire. Each combination of sign, element, and color in the eastern horoscope repeats once every 60 years.
As for the “totemic” animal of 2025, it will be a Wooden Snake. In Chinese culture, it is a symbol of wisdom and generosity. According to forecasts, this should be the year when urgent conflicts and problems should be resolved.
What are the characters of people born in the year of the Snake?
The snake occupies the sixth place in the Chinese zodiac cycle and symbolizes wisdom, strategic thinking and exceptional intuition. Representatives of this sign are natural analysts and subtle communicators who are able to find non—standard solutions even in the most difficult situations.
Despite the potential difficulties that may arise in the year of the Snake, these trials often become a catalyst for personal growth and the acquisition of life wisdom. Snakes are able to extract valuable experience from the most difficult situations, turning challenges into opportunities for self-development.
The distinctive features of people born in the year of the Snake include innate diplomacy, the ability to deeply analyze information, and the rare gift of foresight. They tend to have a philosophical way of thinking and are able to keep secrets, which makes them reliable friends and irreplaceable advisers.
In the professional field, Snakes show themselves to be talented strategists, capable of calculating several moves ahead. Their intuition and analytical mindset allow them to achieve impressive results in business, diplomacy, science and creative professions.
Happy symbols and omens associated with the Wooden Snake
In Chinese astrology, there is a whole set of favorable and unfavorable elements for Snakes. The lucky ones include the numbers 1 and 8, the colors red and black, as well as the western and southern directions. At the same time, it is worth avoiding pink, purple, the numbers 0 and 5, as well as the eastern direction.
In love relationships, Snakes manifest themselves as passionate and subtle natures. Despite their mystery, they can become very loyal partners. However, they demand similar loyalty from their chosen ones and can be suspicious.
The Snake traditionally forms the most harmonious unions with A rooster, a Bull, and A monkey. Relations with The rooster resembles the meeting of fire and water — they seem contradictory, but incredibly attractive. With the Bull, they create a quiet and reliable harbor of mutual understanding. And with A monkey forms an intellectual tandem based on deep mutual respect.
Professionally, Snakes are particularly successful in creative and analytical fields. The best career paths include the professions of investment advisor, psychologist, stylist, social media influencer, and artist. At the same time, monotonous professions that require long-term concentration and teamwork are contraindicated for them.
Health is a somewhat vulnerable area for Snakes. Due to their tendency to a sedentary lifestyle and creative introversion, they are encouraged to move more and diversify their physical activity.
An interesting feature is that in their own year (Ben Ming Nian), representatives of the Snake sign are recommended to wear red clothing items as a talisman against possible failures.
How to celebrate Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is associated with many traditions and customs. We will tell you about the most important of them.
- The holiday begins with the mass launching of fireworks and the lighting of incense. Moreover, the louder it gets, the better.
- On New Year’s Eve, many people gather to pray for happiness and good fortune at the famous Longhua Si Temple (it is located in Shanghai).
- To avoid encountering a monster named Nyan (we wrote about him above), you need to put something tasty on the doorstep.
- The babysitter is also afraid of red. That is why red is used everywhere these days. Red paper lanterns are especially popular.
- An essential attribute of the Chinese New Year is Nianefan, a family dinner on New Year’s Eve; it is also called a reunion dinner.
- Folk festivals and spectacular masthead performances during the Spring Festival. Dancing figures of lions and dragons, symbols of the celebration, appear on the streets at this time.
- Temple fairs (miaohui) are very popular at this time, which began to be held in ancient times. Now it is more of a social event with theatrical performances, concerts and tasting of delicacies.
- Chinese New Year should be celebrated in new clothes, and underwear should be red.
- Before the New Year, you need to thoroughly clean the house — this way you get rid of unnecessary things and negative energy.
- It is advisable to decorate your home with blooming flowers — they symbolize rebirth, as well as prosperity and professional growth.
- By the way, they don’t decorate a Christmas tree in China — they collect a money tree here. This is done like this: a deep pot is filled with rice, cut branches of a tree are placed in it, and a lot of mon (antique copper coins) are tied to them.
- Today, on the eve of the Spring Festival in China, it is customary to watch the New Year’s Gala Concert on CCTV. The show starts at 20:00 and lasts until midnight. In recent years, live broadcasts have become available on YouTube.
- After dinner, they usually do not go to bed, so as not to miss future happiness. In the country, this tradition is called “Protecting the Year.”
Taboo during Chinese New Year
But here’s what you can’t do:
- You can’t wash on New Year’s Eve — you can wash off all your luck. For the same reason, you don’t need to get a haircut — that’s how you cut off some of your well-being.
- Don’t use negative words. Do not bring misfortune on yourself and your loved ones in this way.
- Do not break the dishes. Destroying things will reduce your chances of prosperity and luck.
- Don’t do any cleaning. This applies specifically to the celebration itself. Cleaning or throwing away garbage can take away your luck.
- Do not use scissors or sharp objects. It is believed that sharp objects hinder the flow of wealth and success.
- Don’t take out loans and don’t get into debt.
- Avoid taking medications and visiting a doctor.This is necessary in order not to get sick all year. Of course, chronic and serious diseases are an exception.
- Don’t quarrel or cry. All issues should be resolved peacefully, and then the new year will be held in the same way.
How do they decorate streets and houses in China for the New Year?
The main color of this holiday is a rich red, symbolizing happiness, good luck and protection from evil spirits.
Chuang Hua paper clippings
The central elements of the festive decoration are paper clippings “chuang hua”. These delicate ornaments, made with the utmost care, are glued to the windows by craftsmen using sticky rice glue. Traditionally, they are made of red paper and contain symbolic images: fish, symbolizing abundance, peaches, symbolizing longevity, as well as dragons and phoenixes, known from folk legends.
Guardian Gods of Men Shen
Paired images of the guardian gods “men shen” are an integral part of the decor. These formidable characters, with distorted faces and weapons in their hands, symbolize a powerful defense against evil spirits, guarding the front door.
Calligraphic inscriptions “fu” (happiness)
A mandatory element is the calligraphic inscriptions of the hieroglyph “fu” (oy, happiness). They are often hung upside down, creating an ingenious language game: the word “upside down” sounds like the word “newcomer”, hinting that luck is already here.
Holiday scrolls “Chun Lian” (春联)
Chun Lian holiday scrolls containing poetic messages are placed on the sides of the entrance doors. Each line should contain the same number of hieroglyphs, and the rhythm and structure of the scroll should be harmonious.
Paintings “Nianhua” (年画)
A special place is occupied by the festive paintings “Nianhua”. These colorful prints with images of children, women, mythical creatures and scenes of everyday life not only decorate the space, but also express the family’s hopes for the coming year.
Floral decorations
Among the floral decorations, you can see mandarin trees, golden kumquats and chrysanthemums. Each of these elements carries a symbolic meaning of prosperity and good luck.
Holiday lanterns
The culmination of the decorative decoration is festive lanterns of various shapes: from balls to complex compositions in the form of lotuses and dragons. Wishes are often written on them, which are then released into the sky, hoping for their fulfillment.
What should I eat on Chinese New Year?
The New Year’s table in China is made plentiful so that wealth and luck accompany the whole next year. Although each region of China has its own customs, there are several common dishes on each table. Here they are:
- Stuffed rolls (Chunjuan).
- Dumplings (Jiaozi).
- Longevity noodles (cháng shòu miàn).
- Steamed fish (zhēng yú).
- Steamed chicken (zhēng jī).
- Niangao, also known as “rice cake”.
A popular drink during the New Year holidays is wine. Regardless of age, every family member should drink at least a sip of this drink, as in China it is believed that alcohol can protect against unhappiness. Tea, popular in the country, recedes into the background during the Spring Festival.
What is a Chinese New Year gift?
Chinese residents have found a universal and practical solution for New Year’s gifts: they usually give an envelope with money. The envelopes are called hongbao, and they are always red in color. As for the amount, the main thing is that it should be even. Tangerines or oranges are also given along with the envelope.
Interestingly, since 2015, there have even been digital analogues of such envelopes — the Chinese messenger WeChat introduced the function of sending money to personal and public chats.
But what you should not give for the Chinese New Year is a watch — it is believed that this is a gift for unhappiness or separation.
FAQ (answers to the most frequent questions)
How to determine the date of the Chinese New Year?
The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, and it changes every year. The first day of the new year always falls on the new moon between January 21st and February 20th.
When does the Chinese New Year 2025 begin?
Chinese New Year 2025 falls on January 29.
How long does the Chinese New Year last?
15 days. In 2025, the last day of the holiday will be February 12th.
Do the Chinese work during the New Year holidays?
There are those who stay on vacation for all 15 days, but most Chinese return to work on the fourth day after the New Year’s Eve.
What year is it in China now?
2025 will be the 4723rd year for China according to the current calendar. The “totemic” animal of 2025 is a Wooden Snake.
What are the lucky numbers for those born in the year of the Snake?
Lucky numbers for those born in the year of the Snake are 1 and 8 or any combination of them.
Which celebrities were born in the year of the Wooden Snake?
Celebrities born in the Year of the Dragon include Kanye West, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, J.K. Rowling, and Vivienne Westwood.
What to wear for Chinese New Year?
The main rule is to celebrate the new year in new clothes.
What to give for Chinese New Year?
Red envelopes with money — hongbao.
Where to watch Chinese New Year?
The New Year’s gala concert on the CCTV channel can be viewed on YouTube. Link — www.youtube.com/channel/UCjnJ4buqbnpRVaT3IDUQPZQ
Author
Yulia Yanukovych, Editor-in-Chief
I am responsible for the work of the editorial office. I write expert interviews and guides.
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