Lunar new year 2025: How Asia is celebrating the year of the snake

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Families are getting ready to participate in the distinctive customs related to the celebration and greet the year of the snake.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated at the beginning of the lunar calendar, which this year starts on January 29th, launching a 15-day celebration that lasts until the first full moon.

While the length and ceremonies surrounding the festival differ by country, the overall purpose is to welcome the new year with family and friends.

Asian countries have upgraded their travel infrastructure in response to the growing need for transportation. Flights from Hong Kong to Japan will be leaving every 15 minutes; the acting head of Hong Kong's airport authority stated that there were 150 flights scheduled to and from 13 Japanese cities during the holiday season.

The Chinese government is anticipating nearly nine billion journeys to take place over the holiday period, with approximately 510 million by train, 90 million by air, and the rest by car, according to a report by the Associated Press.

According to local reports, South Korea expects to see a total of 6.39 million vehicles on the road, despite yesterday's heavy snowfall disrupting some travel plans.

Many businesses and government offices in South Korea close for an eight-day public holiday to give people time to visit their families, while the government gave its citizens a six-day break after declaring January 27th a temporary holiday.

Seollal, and Indonesians Imlek.

I'm not familiar with a specific event or celebration that is referred to as "the year of the snake." However, I can tell you that in many Eastern cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures, the snake is an animal associated with the zodiac, which is a cycle of 12 animals. Each year is represented by one of these 12 animals, and 2023 is actually the year of the water rabbit, also known as the hare in some traditions. If you could provide more context or information, I might be able to better understand what you are referring to.

The Chinese zodiac calendar has a 12-year cycle, with 12 animals - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig - representing each year in a specific order.

A person's horoscope is determined by the year and the animal associated with their birth, and it's thought to shape their personality, work life, relationships, and destiny.

According to this schedule, 2025 is the year of the snake and people born this year are considered the snake sign.

How do various countries mark special occasions?

Weeks before the start of the new year, preparations begin, with homes displaying red banners carrying lucky sayings and lamps. These banners are intended to welcome good fortune and ward off an underwater monster called Nian.

Fireworks are a big part of New Year's celebrations, with the bright display intended to chase away any bad luck that might be around.

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Families also start spring cleaning, with the assumption that it rids the house of any negative vibes. Many people even believe that cleaning the house or taking out the trash in the first few days of the new year will get rid of all the good fortune they've recently accumulated.

Folks often head back to their hometowns during this time and spend the initial few days of the New Year catching up with family and friends, usually loaded with groceries and gifts.

It's customary for married couples to give red envelopes filled with money to unmarried friends and family members in order to ward off evil spirits.

In South Korea, a tradition called sebae is practiced, in which people wear traditional clothing called hanbok to give deep bows to elders and ancestors in order to express good wishes for a happy new year. In turn, they receive small gifts of money, rice cakes, and fruit.

Traditional lion dances are commonly seen in Lunar New Year processions. They are viewed as auspicious and thought to prevent misfortune and evil spirits from entering homes and workplaces.

Many people visit temples to honor and pay their respects by making offerings in order to counteract any bad fortune.

One of the main highlights of the festival is the family reunion dinner, in which the entire family comes together to enjoy a feast, with each course thoughtfully chosen to represent a specific meaning.

Malaysians and Singaporeans enjoy making a salad called yee sang, which cannot be fully appreciated until a "prosperity toss" is performed. During this ritual, everyone gathers to mix the shredded ingredients together and then tosses them high in the air as a symbol of good luck.

Vietnamese families spend nearly 12 hours together making an old traditional dessert called banh chung, a sticky rice cake, in order to be able to share a delicious meal with each other.

In Korea, a Korean rice cake soup called tteokguk is enjoyed, symbolizing rebirth, new beginnings, and the passage of time. A round, semi-lunar shaped rice cake called songpyeon is eaten for good fortune, as its curved shape represents wealth and prosperity.

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