5. Wearing new clothes and wishing others good luck. On New Year’s Day, wearing new clothes symbolizes a fresh start. Wearing red is believed to attract luck and prosperity. Greeting others “gongxi” or best wishes is thought to usher in an auspicious year. Chinese New Year 2025 focuses on themes of wisdom and intuition, embodied by the Snake. This celebration involves various traditions, such as preparing the home, enjoying traditional foods, and wearing zodiac-themed jewelry, each symbolizing joy and good luck, fostering a connection to cultural heritage and spiritual growth. Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. Snake is the new year animal. Learn more about Chinese Lunar New Year traditions, taboos, food, zodiac signs, and greetings. Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. When is Chinese New Year 2025? The 2025 Chinese New Year begins on January 29 (Lunar New Year’s Eve) and ends on February 13 (Lantern Festival), lasting a total of 16 days. This period marks the most important celebration in China, symbolizing the transition from winter to spring and emphasizing family reunions. Zodiac Sign and Its Meaning in The best Chinese New Year traditions to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake in 2025. Try these good luck traditions of foods, colors and open windows. The final tradition of Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival. Streets are filled with colorful lanterns of various shapes and sizes, symbolizing luck, peace, renewal, and harmony. Lantern parades are a highlight of the festival, especially in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an. Festival-goers can join in on games, solve lantern Tips for Enjoying the 2025 Chinese New Year Respect Local Customs. Participate in the festivities respectfully. Wear red for good luck, avoid black or white (associated with mourning), and learn simple phrases like “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (Happy New Year). 2025 Auspicious Dates for Chinese New Year Customs Spring Cleaning (大扫除) The phrase “On the 28th day, clean away the dirt” (年廿八,洗邋遢) reflects a tradition of end-of-year spring cleaning, which many Feng Shui practitioners believe refreshes a household’s energy and invites positive fortune for the coming year. Don’t wash your hair on New Year’s Day—you might wash away good luck! Sweeping the floor on the first day is considered bad luck because you could sweep away your fortune. The Lantern Festival: A Dazzling Conclusion. The grand finale of the Chinese New Year celebration is the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the lunar year. This day is This Wednesday, Jan. 29, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, ushering in the Year of the Wood Snake. Also known as Lunar New Year, it is celebrated in many Asian countries, including the Each culture celebrating the Lunar New Year has traditions passed down from generation to generation that are thought to bring good luck. For the Lunar New Year 2025, I asked NPR readers and Lucky food is served during the 16-day festival season, especially on Chinese New Year dinner on New Year's Eve, which is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. The auspicious symbolism of these traditional Chinese New Year foods is based on their pronunciations or appearance. Generations come together to celebrate Chinese New Year, honoring traditions and strengthening family bonds. Clean—but don’t sweep luck away. Houses are cleaned before Chinese New Year to discard bad vibes, but on the day itself, no brooms or mops are allowed. Sweeping during festivities risks brushing away newly arrived fortune. Chinese New Year 2025 begins January 29. which has since become a symbol of good luck and protection. Zodiac Animal for 2025: The Year of the Snake Customs and Traditions . Chinese New The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time of joy, family reunions, and, of course, indulging in delicious food. Each dish served during this festive period carries a special meaning, symbolizing prosperity, luck, and togetherness. Each culture celebrating the Lunar New Year has traditions passed down from generation to generation that are thought to bring good luck. For the Lunar New Year 2025, I asked NPR readers and listeners to share the new and old traditions they practice to ensure a lucky year ahead. Here are some of their responses, edited for length and clarity. The Lunar New Year in 2025 welcomes the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year. In 2025, Lunar New Year falls on January 29, kicking off the 16-day Spring Festival. New Year’s Day (January 29, 2025): The first day of the new year is filled with joy and tradition. Families visit elders, exchange red envelopes (hongbao) for good luck, and participate in rituals to invite prosperity, such as lighting incense at temples or honouring deities.
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