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ONLY AT USA TODAY: Newsletters For Rather than following the western Gregorian Calendar with 365-day years, the Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar based the moon's 12 phases. Each phase For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, Your interests, backed by facts and science—now only $19. SAVE NOW. You May Also Like. HISTORY & CULTURE. The Chinese New Year is the only national religious holiday in Indonesia that was enacted specifically with the Presidential Decree, in this case with the Presidential Decree No. 19 of 2002 dated on 9 April 2002. Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Chinese New Year 2025 will fall on Wednesday, January 29th. The date changes every year but is always somewhere in the period from January 21st to February 20th. 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 Simply put, Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are not the same. Despite being related, there are a few noteworthy differences between the two. Read on to find out what they are. The Differences between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year 1. "Chinese New Year" is specific while "Lunar New Year" is more general. Chinese New Year starts a new animal’s zodiac year. In China, each lunar cycle has 60 years and 12 years is regarded as a small cycle. Each of the 12 years is defined by an animal sign: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 is the Year of the Horse. It is not only celebrated in China. Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore also celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. The two-week celebration includes family and friends, feasting and fireworks, parties and parades. For more than 3,000 years, Lunar New Year was just what it sounds like—the beginning of a new year in the Chinese calendar. Lunar New Year may be called different names in different East Asian countries and communities, but it is celebrated on the same date (and surrounding days) with similar celebrations. China. In China, Lunar New Year is known as Chinese New Year or in Chinese 'Spring Festival' (Chunjie). The celebrations traditionally last for 16 days, beginning Chinese New Year is celebrated not only in China but also in many other countries with significant Chinese communities. Each place adds its unique touch to the festivities. In Singapore, the Chingay Parade features colorful floats, dragon dances, and performances. The 2025 Chinese New Year starts on January 29 to celebrate the Year of the Snake. The 15-day celebration marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. In India, Mumbai’s iconic Kwan Kung temple is the hub for festivities at this time. Built in 1919, it is the only relic of the city’s Chinatown that once existed in the 1950s and 60s. Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of 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). 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. What Major Traditions and Customs Are Associated with Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a time for family reunions, festive meals, and various customs that symbolize good luck and prosperity. Key traditions and customs associated with Chinese New Year include: 1. Reunion Dinner 2. The Chinese New Year is an important time to 拜年 (bàinián, to pay a new year call), so it is common practice to visit relatives and exchange auspicious greetings and Chinese gifts, including the ever-popular lucky red envelopes filled with Chinese currency. Devoted Buddhist and Daoist practitioners also often visit local temples to welcome Some believe that this sweeps away bad luck and makes room for incoming blessings. However, sweeping or cleaning on New Year’s Day is avoided, as it could sweep away good fortune. Special Foods and Festive Customs of Chinese New Year. Food is an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations, with each dish carrying symbolic meanings. READ: Chinese New Year 2025: What does the year of the Wooden Snake hold for your zodiac sign? Amid the Chinese New Year, Marcos said everyone is being called to embrace the promise of prosperity with courage and determination. Marcos is hoping that the vibrant lanterns amid the celebration will also ''brighten our purpose as a nation.'' Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on January 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. What is the Mumbai’s Chinese community welcomed the Year of the Snake with grand celebrations at Kwan Kung Temple, the city’s only Chinese temple in Mazgaon. The event featured prayers, cultural performances and traditional rituals, dragon dances, and festive decorations symbolising prosperity and good fortune.
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