Lunar New Year 2025: How To Embrace Year Of The Snake
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1 week ago
Ssspecial giftsss for the zodiac
With festive season now behind us, our attention turns to the next big celebration: Lunar New Year. And in 2025, we’ll be celebrating the Year of the Snake. Gift-giving is a key part of this special holiday, symbolising wishes of prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Tradition suggests we give a lucky red packet full of new bills, but it’s also not uncommon to see people giving more modern presents (or saving a few for themselves). Keen to join the celebration? These are the perfect Lunar New Year gifts for 2025.
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When Is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year takes places on Wednesday 29 January 2025, kicking off the Year of the Snake.
What Does The Snake Represent?
The Snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac, and holds a significant and complex place in Chinese culture. It represents wisdom, charm, elegance and transformation, as well as mystery and intuition. Historically, snakes have been venerated – especially in Chinese tradition, where it has connections to the mythological mother goddess Nüwa and the serpent-like body of the Chinese dragon. And despite its sometimes ominous reputation for cunning and secrecy, the Snake is also seen as a bearer of good fortune.
If you were born in the Year of the Snake – 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, or 2025 – you are said to embody the zodiac’s intelligence, strategy, calmness and loyalty to loved ones. Snakes are believed to be intuitive and thoughtful individuals who thrive in situations requiring careful planning and insight. However, they may also exhibit jealousy or materialistic tendencies.
How To Embrace Year Of The Snake & What To Expect
Following the Lunar calendar, in 2025 we’re set to welcome the Year of the Snake. Associated with wisdom, transformation and intuition, the Year of the Snake is expected to bring a period of introspection and strategic growth to many of us. Although this year will be particularly auspicious for those born under the zodiac signs of the Rat, Monkey, Rooster, Horse and Dragon, who are likely to experience good fortune.
This is also the year of the Wood Snake; combining the snake’s characteristics with the nurturing Wood element, it’s expected that the new cycle will bring about enhanced creativity, personal development and financial opportunities. It’s a time for quiet progress, deep thinking, and laying the groundwork for long-term success. The year also encourages a shift towards a more spiritual outlook, with opportunities for healing and transformation on both personal and global levels.
For everyone, the Year of the Snake is a time to embrace transformation and introspection. In 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake brings an emphasis on growth and wisdom. This year encourages strategic thinking and adaptability for navigating challenges while seizing opportunities for personal development.
Certain zodiac signs should exercise caution due to potential conflicts with the tai sui, the guardian deity for that year. Snakes, Rats, Monkeys and Horses are particularly advised to be careful.
@iamkellytang There’s probably something I’m still missing on the list lol. I’m excited for lunar new year!! #yearofthesnake #lunarnewyear #chinesenewyear #newyear ♬ original sound – Kelly Tang
What Not To Do At Lunar New Year
There are also a few things to avoid just before, during and just after Lunar New Year. Some of the most well-known are:
- Cleaning: Don’t take out the bins or do any sweeping for the first three days of Lunar New Year, as this is believed to sweep away or dump out your good luck and wealth
- Clothes: Don’t wear white or things that are damaged (have holes) on Lunar New Year – instead, you want to wear new and brightly coloured clothes. Black and white are traditionally associated with funerals and mourning, and can be seen as inviting misfortune
- Laundry:Â Don’t wash your clothes during this period, as this is thought to offend traditional water gods and bring bad luck
- Crying:Â Crying is forbidden during Lunar New Year; it’s believed that crying now will lead to more crying throughout the year
- Finances: Avoid lending or borrowing money at this time, and pay off all debts before Lunar New Year’s Eve – this should set a precedent for good finances for the rest of the year
Yin vs Yang
As well as an animal, a lucky direction is also associated with the Chinese zodiac. For the Year of the Snake, the lucky directions are Southwest and Southeast. Point your desk or sofa, pick your new flat or build a house based on these directions.
The year is also either a Yin or Yang year (this time it’ll be Yin), and associated with one of the elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water (this time, it’s Wood). The sequence runs as follows:
- Years ending in 0: Yang Metal.
- Years ending in 1: Yin Metal.
- Years ending in 2: Yang Water.
- Years ending in 3: Yin Water.
- Years ending in 4: Yang Wood.
- Years ending in 5: Yin Wood.
- Years ending in 6: Yang Fire.
- Years ending in 7: Yin Fire.
- Years ending in 8: Yang Earth.
- Years ending in 9: Yin Earth.
Yin years draw on earth, femaleness, darkness and absorption, while Yang years draw on maleness, light and activity.
Gifts For Lunar New Year 2025
Which Traditional Gifts Should You Give At Lunar New Year?
If you like to stick to the classics, fear not. We’ve put together a guide of traditional Lunar New Year gifts here.
Featured image: LUSH
