Today (January 29th) is Chinese New Year’s day, or occasionally referred to as the “spring festival.” The celebration date is based entirely on the rotation of the moon. According to tradition, the new year begins on the day of the new moon between the dates of January 21st and February 20th and is considered one of the most important holidays in the Chinese Culture. In accordance with the ancient Chinese calendar, the new year is a celebration of the end of winter and a way to welcome spring.
There are numerous ways people celebrate Chinese new year from family dinners to house cleaning. Tradition says families should clean their house around this date to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune. Others choose to launch fireworks or some will pass out money in red envelopes to ward off evil spirits.
2025 will be year of the snake, which means it’s a year of rebirth for people. The year of the snake indicates it’s time to shed negativity in one’s life, let go of the past, let go of anger, and to embrace change in the year ahead. Those born in the year of the snake are considered to be intuitive, intelligent, and strategic, according to the Chinese zodiac. This isn’t the first time we’ve had a year of the snake, either.
Each year, a different animal/creature is recognized as part of the Chinese zodiac. There are 12 zodiac signs including the snake, rat, rooster, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, dog, pig, monkey, goat, and horse. In addition to 2025, the year of the snake has also been observed in 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, and 1905, the year Saskatchewan became a province.
Happy Chinese New Year to all those observing this special occasion today.
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