The Chinese Lunar New Year begins during the New Moon on January 29th. It is both the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar and the celebration of the arrival of Spring.
The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year cycle with each year being a different element and animal. There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac with each animal representing characteristics that shape the personalities of people born in that year. The 12 animals are: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. And five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
2025 is the year of the wood snake. The last Year of the Wood Snake was in 1965. Other recent Snake years include the Fire Snake (1977), Earth Snake (1989), Metal Snake (2001), and Water Snake (2013).
In Chinese culture, the snake represents resilience, intelligence, creativity, and intuition.
According to Chinese mythology, the animals of the zodiac are from a great race to measure time conducted by the ruler of heaven, the Jade Emperor. The rat won the race with the order of the other animals reflecting their final place in the race. The snake placed sixth.
Lunar New Year celebrations last for 15 days and end with the Lantern Festival.
