Lunar New Year 2025: Year of the Snake Celebrations, Traditions and Global Festivities

Published on January 30, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

The Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Snake, commenced on January 29, 2025, with vibrant celebrations across Asia and beyond.

This significant festival, known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea, is marked by various traditional activities and cultural events.

Celebrations Across Asia

In Beijing, China, residents gathered at temple fairs, such as the one at Ditan Park, to ring bells, toss coins for good luck, enjoy traditional snacks, and take photos with representations of the God of Wealth.

The city witnessed a mass movement as many individuals traveled to their hometowns, leaving the capital’s roads and subways unusually quiet.

In Hong Kong, hundreds lined up at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple before midnight to be among the first to place incense sticks in front of the temple’s main hall. This annual ritual is believed to bring blessings for the family and success in business.

Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, celebrated with the pop-pop-pop of firecrackers outside the Guan Di temple, followed by lion dances accompanied by rhythmic drums and cymbals.

Ethnic Chinese participants held incense sticks, bowed in prayer, and placed the incense into elaborate gold-colored pots, with smoke rising from the burning tips.

In Vietnam, known locally as Tet, people visited pagodas such as the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi to pray for good fortune in the coming year.

The holiday is a time for family reunions, traditional meals, and honoring ancestors.

Global Observances

Beyond Asia, the Lunar New Year was celebrated in cities like Moscow, Russia, where a 10-day festival kicked off with a colorful procession featuring drummers, costumed dancers, and large dragon and snake figures.

Visitors enjoyed Chinese food, cultural performances, and various booths selling snacks and artwork.

In Havana, Cuba’s small Chinese community marked the occasion with a parade of glowing lanterns and dragon dances winding through the narrow streets of Chinatown.

The festivities blended traditional Chinese customs with local Cuban elements, reflecting the unique cultural fusion present in the region.

Cultural Significance and Traditions

The Year of the Snake is associated with wisdom, resilience, and renewal. Traditionally, the Lunar New Year is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and various cultural performances.

Many people clean their homes to sweep away ill-fortune and make way for incoming good luck. Red decorations are prevalent, symbolizing prosperity and happiness.

Fireworks are commonly used to ward off evil spirits and usher in good fortune.

In Shanghai, the Natural History Museum launched a special Year of the Snake exhibition titled “Mystical Realms of Snakes,” showcasing 80 select specimens, including ancient fossils and modern snake displays.

The exhibition explores the evolutionary history and cultural significance of snakes in Chinese society.

As the Year of the Snake unfolds, communities worldwide continue to honour their heritage through these rich and diverse celebrations, reflecting the enduring significance of the Lunar New Year in bringing people together to celebrate shared traditions and cultural values.