Lunar New Year
In 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake, began on 29 January. The snake is in the 6th year of the 12 year cycle.
While different regions across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac, this major festival is celebrated at the beginning of the Chinese lunisolar calendar and is thought to have originated in ancient China about 3,500 years ago. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, and marks the end of winter and the beginning of the new year.
Cultural traditions include cleaning one's house to remove bad luck and using lucky red items to decorate, such as red lanterns. Time is also spent with family preparing and eating auspicious foods which unites families in a spirit of renewal and hopefor the future. Gifts are also exchange with red envelopes containing money quite common.