The Lunar New Year 2025, celebrated on January 29th, marks the start of a new year in many East and Southeast Asian countries. This year, the Snake takes center stage in the Chinese Zodiac, symbolizing good luck, rebirth, and prosperity. The holiday traditions vary across cultures, with each nation embracing unique customs and festivities.
January 29th marks the beginning of the 2025 Lunar New Year , a significant holiday celebrated across East and Southeast Asian countries like China, Korea , and Vietnam. This holiday, which aligns with the lunisolar cycle, typically falls between January 21st and February 20th each year, ushering in the spring season. While the Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday in some East Asian countries, each nation observes it in unique ways.
It is known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea. In Taiwan, this year, people are flocking to the White Snake Temple to pay their respects, while Indonesia celebrates with vibrant dragon puppet displays and energetic drum performances. Each country boasts distinct traditions surrounding food and festivities. For instance, the Lunar New Year in China is celebrated over 15 days, whereas Koreans typically observe it for three days. Despite these cultural variations, a common thread weaving through the celebrations is the emphasis on family unity and aspirations for prosperity in the coming year. The Lunar New Year is represented by one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, each year associated with specific elements like metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. This year, 2025, falls under the sign of the Snake. Snakes hold both fear and reverence in Chinese culture. They are associated with darkness due to venomous snakes, but also revered as “little dragons” in mythology. The shed skin of a snake, known as “the dragon’s coat,” symbolizes good luck, rebirth, and regeneration. Snakes are also linked with the pursuit of love and happiness and, alongside the turtle and crane, represent longevity. Various customs and traditions unfold between three and 15 days after the first day of the Lunar New Year. For example, many Chinese and Vietnamese families exchange red envelopes filled with money to signify good luck and prosperity, a practice common in other celebrations like weddings. Lion Dance performances are also a key element of Chinese and Vietnamese New Year celebrations.Traditionally, Chinese families gather for a dinner on the eve of the Lunar New Year, with steamed whole fish taking center stage as it is believed to bring wealth in the New Year. At midnight, families light fireworks and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. Dumplings also play a significant role in Chinese New Year festivities. Some families include a coin in one of the dumplings, and the lucky recipient is believed to experience financial abundance in the coming year.Korean families also encourage children to stay awake until midnight on the night before the Lunar New Year, warning them that their eyebrows will turn white if they sleep. For people of Korean descent, “Dduk-Guk” (rice cake soup) is a traditional dish, alongside a board game called “Yoot” using four sticks as dice. Korean children also participate in a bowing ceremony called “Seh-Beh” to show respect to their parents and grandparents. Children are then rewarded with money, similar to Chinese New Year traditions, although red envelopes are not widely used among Koreans
LUNAR NEW YEAR CHINESE ZODIAC SNAKE TRADITIONS FAMILY PROSPERITY EAST ASIA VIETNAM KOREA CHINA
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