Lunar New Year
Every year, billions of people celebrate the Lunar New Year as it signifies the start of the Lunar calendar. This year, the Lunar New Year started on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, and lasts for 16 days, but only the first seven days are considered a public holiday. The Lunar calendar starts on the first new moon of the year, and the calendar is based on the phase of the moon, and this method of tracking dates to 32,000 B.C. The last day of the Lunar New Year will be Wednesday, February 12, with their Lantern Festival, ending the holiday. This is also known as the Spring Festival that takes place in China and marks the start of the spring season.
This year is the Year of the Snake, those born during 2013, 2001, 1989, and 1977 are represented by the Snake. The snake is symbolized as having wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. The people who are born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be intuitive, strategic, and intelligent. As seen as a horoscope for the year, “While 2025 is a challenging year for Snakes due to their Ben Ming Nian, lucky stars offer strong opportunities for career and financial growth. Stay focused, take necessary precautions, and balance challenges with joyful events to make the most of the year.” Ben Ming Nian is all of the challenges and setbacks a zodiac might go through during their year.
So what are some ways that you can become educated and more involved with the Lunar New Year? Some ways that you can become a little more involved is by figuring out what your Chinese zodiac animal is. For example, I was born in 2003, so I was born in the Year of the Sheep or also known as the Year of the Goat. Sheep are seen as, “...kind, good-natured, shy, compassionate and friendly. They are proud of their penchant for social justice and will always fight for what they believe in. They are sensitive people who think positively.” Some other ways you can get involved is by learning about some of their customs and traditions that they do during this time. Another big thing is trying out some traditional dishes that are made for the Lunar New Year such as noodles, fish, sweet rice balls, and pork belly as these foods are symbolic and represent good fortune, prosperity, and family togetherness, which I think is a great way to bring people together.
