Chinese New Year

2025 - 1 - 29

Snakes, Noodles, and New Beginnings: Ringing in the Lunar New Year!

Chinese New Year - Cultural Celebrations - Cyril Ramaphosa - Family Reunion - Food Traditions - Lunar New Year - Spring Festival - Year of the Snake

Join the snake parade this Lunar New Year! Let's celebrate with food, family, and a little bit of fireworks! 🐍🎉

As the moon waxes and the new year dawns, millions across the world embrace the hustle and bustle of Lunar New Year celebrations. Kicking off the Year of the Snake, this festival doesn’t just mark a change in the calendar but immerses families in centuries-old traditions brimming with joy, vibrant colors, and delectable food! While many people in South Africa might be gearing up to celebrate their own cultural events, our friends in Asia and around the globe are diving headfirst into the festive spirit, gathering with loved ones to feast on all their favorite dishes. Think noodles, dumplings, and sweet rice cakes—all the good stuff to start the year off right!

The Year of the Snake heralds a time of renewal and reflection, and citizens from different walks of life are getting ready to join in the fifteen-day festivities that go beyond just a day of celebration. From the eye-catching red envelopes representing good luck to the sound of fireworks lighting up the night sky, every element of the event is steeped in rich symbolism. No wonder these festivities attract over a billion people worldwide, filling the streets with life! And let’s not forget about the snakes! Symbolizing intelligence and wisdom, those born in the Year of the Snake are thought to be analytical and insightful—perfect characteristics for addressing the challenges the new year presents!

But wait, there’s more to this festive time! As markets overflow with bright mandarins and those lucky red envelopes, families partake in various ancestral rites and local traditions. Just take a stroll down a bustling street in many Asian cities or vibrant diaspora communities worldwide, and you'll witness the beautiful sights and sounds accompanying the Lunar New Year. Expect lion dances, lantern displays, and even community events that encourage everyone to join the snake parade—where metaphorically slithering into the year is encouraged! A little bit of fun, a lot of laughter, and loads of delicious food coincide beautifully during this time.

While many might just consider this a celebration limited to specific Asian cultures, the spirit of the Lunar New Year touches the hearts of people from all walks of life. In 2025, when the next Year of the Snake swings back around, you’ll likely find entire neighborhoods lighting up in honor of this festive occasion, showcasing the beauty of diversity in South Africa. Did you know that this celebration has been going on for over 4,000 years? And for those who wonder how the Year of the Snake is transformative, let's just say a healthy dose of food, family, and festivity might be the perfect recipe for making spiritual and emotional progress!

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Lunar New Year: Family, food and colour as millions celebrate Year ... (BBC News)

Celebrations are taking place all across Asia and other communities worldwide in the Year of the Snake.

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Image courtesy of "Syracuse University News"

Celebrate the Year of the Snake With Lunar New Year Events on ... (Syracuse University News)

While many people here in the U.S. celebrated the start of a new year when the Gregorian calendar flipped from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, as many as 2 billion peopl ...

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Image courtesy of "Northern Health"

Happy Lunar New Year 2025: The Year of the Snake - Northern Health (Northern Health)

Embedded in centuries-old traditions, the holiday marks the beginning of a new year based on the lunar calendar, which follows the cycles of the moon rather ...

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Today's New Moon Kicks-Off Chinese Lunar New Year And Sets-Up ... (Forbes)

Yes, it is—and it's also called Spring Festival in China, a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions. Lunar calendars are everywhere. The following new ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Who is celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake and ... (Aljazeera.com)

Several countries mark their new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar involving movement of the Sun and Moon.

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Image courtesy of "Red and Black"

EXPLAINER: Chinese New Year (Red and Black)

The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, will begin today on Wednesday, Jan. 29, welcoming in the Year of the Snake. This year is set to bring.

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Image courtesy of "Austin American-Statesman"

Chinese New Year begins today: What to know about Lunar New ... (Austin American-Statesman)

Markets are overflowing with mandarins and red envelopes, while golden decorations shine in the winter sun, and families gather across the continent as they ...

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Year Of The Snake Kicks Off: What To Know About The Lunar New ... (Forbes)

The Chinese New Year is being celebrated by more than 1 billion people with fireworks, feasts and festivals.

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Image courtesy of "NBC New York"

Lunar New Year 2025: What to know about the Year of the Snake (NBC New York)

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a traditional Asian celebration that has been observed in for thousands of years.

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Lunar New Year 2025 Photos: See Year of the Snake Celebrations ... (The New York Times)

More than a billion people across the world, from China to the Philippines to diaspora communities in the United States, began celebrating the Lunar New ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

In pictures: Lunar New Year celebrations (CNN)

Red lanterns, fireworks and family feasts. This is how millions of families around the world will be ringing in the Lunar New Year, the most important ...

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Where is the lunar new year celebrated and who celebrates it? (CBS News)

Different regions in Asia may not follow the same zodiac observed in China, and many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not observe the Chinese zodiac, ...

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Image courtesy of "Global Times"

Chinese New Year celebrated around Asia - Global Times (Global Times)

Colorful and heartwarming celebrations including dragon dances, family reunions, and festive meals filled the air with joy, hope, and unity. Inscribed in 2024 ...

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Image courtesy of "Courier Journal"

What is the Lunar New Year? Everything you need to know from ... (Courier Journal)

Chinese New Year in 2025 starts on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and lasts until the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12.

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Image courtesy of "Today.com"

30 Chinese Lunar New Year Wishes and Messages for 2025 (Today.com)

Ring in the Year of the Snake with these festive greetings and wishes. Two colorful Chinese dragon dance performances against blue sky background during Chinese ...

Chinese New Year celebrated in Poland (新华网)

WARSAW, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A special event celebrating the Chinese New Year was held in the Polish capital on Wednesday, giving over 100 guests the chance ...

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Image courtesy of "Xinhua"

Chinese New Year celebrated across world (Xinhua)

A participant tries on traditional Chinese costume during an event in celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Confucius Institute of Far Eastern Federal ...

Feature: Egypt's Giza welcomes Chinese New Year with grand ... (Xinhua)

CAIRO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The historic Swiss Club in Egypt's Giza governorate near the capital Cairo transformed into a vibrant embroidery of cultures as ...

South African president sends good wishes on commencement of ... (People's Daily)

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday extended his.

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

Chinese New Year festivities enchant travellers at OR Tambo ... (Independent Online)

On the eve of the 2025 Lunar New Year, travellers at OR Tambo International Airport were greeted with vibrant drums, traditional dancing, ...

President Ramaphosa extends well wishes to China on Lunar New ... (South African Government News Agency)

President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed messages of goodwill to the government.

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Image courtesy of "China Daily"

Chinese New Year celebrated across the world (China Daily)

People watch a lion dance performance during the Chinese New Year celebration in the departure hall of Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, ...

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Image courtesy of "People's Daily Online"

Chinese New Year celebrated across world - People's Daily Online (People's Daily Online)

A participant tries on traditional Chinese costume during an event in celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Confucius Institute of Far Eastern Federal ...

President Cyril Ramaphosa message of goodwill on ... (South African Government)

We extend our good wishes to the Chinese community in South Africa including Chinese citizens who live in or are currently visiting our beautiful country.

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