Considered one of the largest celebrations around the world, the 16-day festival which commemorates the arrival of the Chinese New Year on January 29 is a mark of long-standing traditions and family values. It’s a time for people to pause and reflect on the year that’s passed and prepare themselves for a fresh start.
Instead of allocating zodiacs for each month as is commonly done in the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle where each year is represented by a different animal.
Year of the Wood Snake
This year marks the Year of the Wood Snake. It also called year of Green Snake because Wood is associated with colour green. As the sixth animal in line, the snake represents sagacity and transformation while the wood marks growth, stability and creativity. In combination of these two sets of qualities, this year promotes inner reflection which will lead to outward progress along with a strong influence of nature. This animal and element have come together after 60 years. For those born in the year of the snake, 2025 is considered to be their ‘Ben Ming’ year — one that’s believed to bring bad luck unless they wear red.
Decorations
The significance of red, a colour traditionally believed to ward off the monster Nian, plays a larger role within the festival and Chinese culture as well. Be it the paper-cut art stuck on windows using sticky rice glue or the square bits of paper with the Chinese character for ‘fortune’ written on them, this colour dominates the festival like no other. Twin flap doors with ‘Door Gods’ painted on them protect the house from all evil with their sharp weapons and twisted features.
Taboos
Given the emphasis Chinese culture places on family values and bonds, the new year is considered a time for people to return to their roots and commemorate this time together. It’s considered a taboo for people to clean their homes until the fifth day since it can wash off newfound luck. People restrain from using sharp objects or cutting their hair to preserve the flow of wealth along with avoiding breaking any ceramic or glass that can shatter their connection to good fortune.
Traditions
The first two days are considered a time for people to meet and greet each other. Along with offering gifts and greetings to each other, people exchange Hong Bao- a customary red envelope which carries good wishes and cash for their loved ones. The third day is marked to make offerings at the temple and seek blessings and advice from deities and fortune-tellers alike. Images of Cai Shen, the God of Wealth, are hung up on the fifth day to invite opulence and riches into the house. As a mark to those who’ve passed, people believe that their offerings will bring fortune and fate to their ancestors in the afterlife, along with burning fake paper money and printed gold bars in their glory.
Reunion dinner
As an ode to the holiday spirit, the reunion dinner done on Lunar New Year’s Eve is a blend of China’s emphasis on food and family. Dumplings, shaped like gold ingots, are meant to ring in wealth and fish, eaten half and half on each day, prolongs the abundance of prosperity. As a tradition, a coin is put into a random dumpling which is credited for bringing luck to whoever eats it. Meant to signify longevity, noodles are supposed to be eaten without cutting or chewing since the longer the noodle, the longer one’s life is presumed to be. Accompanied by special sauces, a hot pot is one of the most loved items on the menu which offers a variety of uncooked meat and vegetables to those dining who then get to make their pick of what to cook in the boiling broth. Turnip cakes, osmanthus jelly and jujube flower cakes help end the evening on a delicious note.
Lantern festival
The lantern festival on the fifteenth day marks the first full moon of the year where people gather to write their wishes on a lantern and float it into the sky; with the hope that the new year would turn those dreams into their reality.
A symbol of newfound luck and prosperity, the Chinese New Year is an occasion of joy and jubilee for millions around the world who wish to forego the past and look forward to a brighter future.
