Celebrate the Year of the Snake in London, the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia.. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people descend on the West End to enjoy a colourful parade, free stage performances and traditional Chinese food, and to wish each other "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year in Mandarin) or "Sun Nin Faai Lok" (in Cantonese). 2025 will welcome the Year of the Snake for the first time since 2013. If you were born in 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953 or 1941, this year will be one of luck and opportunity. You can celebrate Chinese New Year in the UK by visiting authentic Chinese restaurants or attending food festivals during the celebrations. Must-try dishes include dumplings (jiaozi), symbolising wealth and prosperity; noodles, representing longevity; and sweet rice balls (tangyuan), a dessert that signifies family unity. Lunar New Year is widely celebrated throughout the UK, especially in larger cities and on university campuses. In fact, London hosts the largest annual Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia, offering an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in this joyous cultural event. Read on for some Lunar New Year facts. 1. The date changes The main events to be held in the UK during the Chinese New Year are: On January 28, the Spring Festival Eve, the London Eye will be lit up in red to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake. Between January 27 and February 9, 50 buses in London will be decorated with a "Hello, China" advertisement. On Saturday 1 February 2025 lion dance performances weave through the streets of Chinatown between 11am-5pm.. The major celebrations happen on Sunday 2 February 2025, with the Chinese New Year When is Chinese New Year celebrated in London in 2025? In 2025 Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday 29 January, and this time around it’s the Year of the Snake. London’s Chinatown, Trafalgar List of dates for other years. Upcoming holidays in the United Kingdom. Holidays in the United Kingdom 2025. Holidays in the United Kingdom 2026. Chinese communities across the United Kingdom (UK) celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year. The year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, based on the Chinese zodiac. The dragon, long perceived by the Chinese people to be their totemic symbol, represents dignity, prestige, and auspiciousness. Prior to the transformation of the London Eye, the Chinese New Year mood has built across the United Kingdom. The Lantern Festival marks the first full moon of the new lunar year. Take a look at the most important dates for the Lunar New Year this year. 3. It began with the legend of the ancient beast. Lunar New Year began with the legend of an ancient, mythical beast named Nian 年獸 (the character for ‘year). Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, marks the end of winter and the arrival of the spring season on the lunisolar calendar. Plus, it signifies the start of the new year. The Lunar New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice and between the spring equinox during the months of either The legal holiday is seven days long, from the Lunar New Year's Eve to the sixth day of the first lunar month. Some companies and public institutions enjoy a longer holiday up to 10 days or more, because in common knowledge among Chinese people, the festival lasts longer, from the Lunar New Year's Eve to the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival). Since the mid-1990s people in China have been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year. This week of relaxation has been designated Spring Festival, a term that is sometimes used to refer to the Chinese New Year in general. The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years Chinese communities in the UK and other Western countries normally hold a big celebration of the Chinese New Year on the first weekend after the proper New Year's Day. This is because people often have to work on New Year's Day, unless it falls on a weekend. CHINESE NEW YEAR 2025 – 29 th January 2025 – How we celebrate the year of the Yin Wood Snake (Yi Si) Chinese New Year will begin with the new moon, and is based on the Lunar calendar. In 2025 this falls on the 29 th January and is a day of celebration – a chance for family and friends to gather worldwide to welcome in the new year. Grand The terms Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year are often used interchangeably. But it’s not the same. Although both celebrate the start of a new year according to the lunar calendar, they have different meanings, traditions, and cultural significance. Laba Festival (Jan. 7, 2025): Old Chinese New Year Calendar Start. Traditionally, the start of the Chinese New Year calendar is 'The Laba Festival' (腊八节 Làbājié), which occurs about three weeks before Chinese New Year's Day and is celebrated separately. Religious activities and preparations for Lunar New Year would begin on this day. In many Chinese cities, from New Year’s Day, traditional performances can be seen such as dragon dances, lion dances, and imperial performances like an emperor’s wedding. The new year in 2025 falls on Jan. 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. Celebrations last up to 16 days; the Chinese public holiday lasts from Wednesday to Feb. 4.
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