Photo by RDNE Stock project
The Lunar New Year festival for 2025 is around the corner, with several countries and people planning to join in the celebration. With the promises of amazing fireworks, colorful themes, and many days of festivities, the world will kick off the Year of The Snake.
Being the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle, the Snake symbolizes keen insight and extraordinary intelligence. Coming as the animal for the year 2025 means the year promises wisdom, intuition, insight, and positive transformation.
Whether you plan to be a part of the celebration as an African living in the relevant regions, or you simply want to satisfy for thirst for knowledge, this post will tell you everything you need to know about the Lunar New Year Festival 2025.
Celebration Day And Date
Also called the Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year festivities begin on Wednesday, the 29th of January, 2025, and will run till Wednesday, the 12th of February, 2025. This means that the celebrations will last for a total of fifteen days.
It will kick off with the arrival of the Year of The Snake and will end with the Lantern Festival on the last day of the celebrations. Most of the days are packed with activities and significance, ensuring that there isn’t a downtime or dull moment during the festivities.
How The Lunar New Year is Celebrated
Photo by .M.Q Huang
While celebrations do vary from country to country, some traditions largely remain the same. From preparation rites to sharing of gifts and reunions, The Lunar New Year Festival maintains its spirit regardless of region and location.
Several days before the celebrations begin, people often ‘clear out any negativity’ remaining in their homes to prepare for the new year. They do this by sweeping and tidying up the home, doing away with any lingering bad luck. This is to prevent it from following anyone into the coming year.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, family reunion dinners take place in homes. These dinners feature varieties of dishes that are all associated with luck, whether in name or ingredients.
The next day, which is the Lunar New Year day, is characterized by visits to and from relatives and loved ones. People exchange various gifts but couples give red packets to unmarried people like children, bachelors, and spinsters. These red packets are believed to protect against evil by acting as a ward. Called Hongbao/lai see, they generally contain money.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, people mostly visit temples to make offerings and consult the constellations. Some believe that this day tends to attract conflicts and arguments, therefore engaging in non-social activities reduces the chances of these occurring.
The Lantern Festival comes up on the last day of the festivities. It features the lighting of red lanterns and also provides an avenue to connect and socialize. With the day marking the first full moon of the year, it is also believed to herald good luck for the coming days.
Fun Fact: The Lantern Festival was the only day young girls were allowed to go out and socialize with the young boys in the community. This earned it the nickname Chinese Valentine’s Day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where Will The Lunar New Year Festival Take Place?
The Lunar New Year Festival takes place in China and other Oriental countries. However, countries and communities around the world can also join in the celebrations.
Why Do They Celebrate The Lunar New Festival?
Falling on the last days of winter and marking the beginning of the spring season, The Lunar New Year Festival represents the arrival of good fortune and prosperity. When people celebrate this festival, they are commemorating the new beginnings and the start of positive days.
Who Celebrates the Lunar New Year Festival?
The Lunar New Year Festival is primarily celebrated by the Chinese people. But other countries like South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam join in the festivities because they also observe a lunar calendar and have a significant presence of Chinese people.
This does not mean you cannot partake in the celebrations and if you find yourself in a place where the festivities are taking place, feel free to join in!