When is Chinese new year in 2025？
When is Chinese New Year In 2025?🎇
Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on January 29th. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of China and its culture, it’s best to start with the country’s most important traditional festival: Chinese New Year, also known as the Chinese Spring Festival.
The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the most significant and culturally rich traditional holidays in China. It typically refers to New Year’s Eve and the first day of the lunar calendar, also known as the Lunar New Year or simply “New Year.” The celebration generally begins with the Laba Festival or the “Little New Year” and lasts until the Lantern Festival.
The history of the Spring Festival is ancient, originating from early human beliefs in nature worship and primitive religious rituals. These rituals, initially aimed at praying for a bountiful harvest and prosperity, gradually evolved into various celebratory activities over time, eventually forming the modern-day Spring Festival. The term “Spring Festival” began to be widely used after the Xinhai Revolution.
*Chinese New Year Lion Dance.
*Chinese New Year-loong dance.
During the Spring Festival, many ethnic groups in China, including the Han people, participate in a wide array of festive activities. These activities focus on ancestral worship, showing respect to elders, expressing gratitude, praying for blessings, family reunions, clearing out the old and welcoming the new, and wishing for a prosperous year.
Traditions like eating Laba porridge, worshipping the Kitchen God, cleaning the house, putting up Spring Festival couplets, hanging New Year paintings, sticking the “Fu” character upside down, staying up on New Year’s Eve, eating dumplings, giving lucky money, visiting relatives, and attending temple fairs are integral to the celebration.
Influenced by Chinese culture, many countries and regions worldwide also observe customs to celebrate the Lunar New Year. From Egypt in Africa to Brazil in South America, from the Empire State Building in New York to the Sydney Opera House, the Chinese New Year has sparked a global “China craze.” The festival is vibrant and diverse, with significant historical, artistic, and cultural value.
In 2006, Spring Festival traditions were officially listed as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage. In December 2023, the 78th United Nations General Assembly designated the Lunar New Year as an official UN holiday. In 2024, the Year of the Dragon, organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Vienna United Nations Headquarters celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year for the first time.
Festival Name 🎉
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, is traditionally referred to as “Xin Chun” (New Spring), “Xin Sui” (New Year), or “Sui Dan” (New Year’s Day). Colloquially, it is simply called “Guo Nian” (celebrating the New Year). Its origins date back to ancient times when people held rituals at the beginning of the year to pray for good harvests and conduct ancestor worship.
In ancient China, “Sui” referred to a tool used for harvesting and rituals, while “Nian” symbolized the maturity of crops (the earliest written form of the character “Nian” resembled a person carrying harvested grain on their back). Over time, various traditions, such as harvest celebrations, worshipping heaven and ancestors, and driving away evil spirits, evolved into the custom of celebrating the New Year.
From a linguistic perspective, the name “Spring Festival” consists of two parts: “Spring” and “Festival.” “Spring” represents the season and symbolizes the beginning of the year, a time of vitality and rebirth. In Chinese culture, spring is seen as a symbol of life and hope. “Festival” refers to a specific, significant day marked by special celebrations. Therefore, the literal meaning of “Spring Festival” is a festival to celebrate the arrival of spring.
This highlights the importance of the Spring Festival in Chinese culture; it is not just an ordinary holiday but a special time that symbolizes renewal, hope, and family reunion. The name “Spring Festival” came about because it marks the start of the Lunar New Year, a period when the earth awakens and all living things begin to regenerate. The name reflects traditional Chinese reverence for time and nature.
**Chinese New Year Lion Dance.
Historically, the first month of the year has always been called “Zheng Yue” (the first month) or “Yuan Yue” (the first month of the year). Although the terminology has remained consistent, the exact timing of the first month varied across different dynasties in ancient China. In fact, the Spring Festival was not originally a holiday but referred to “Lichun,” one of the 24 solar terms.
By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, “Spring Festival” began to refer to the entire spring season. It wasn’t until the Republic of China era that the concept of the “Spring Festival” as we know it today began to take shape. After the Xinhai Revolution, the Gregorian calendar was adopted, and the Lunar New Year’s Day was renamed “Spring Festival,” while January 1st on the Gregorian calendar became known as “Yuan Dan” (New Year’s Day).
Origin of the Festival🚩
The origins of ancient traditional festivals are deeply rooted in early belief systems, sacrificial rites, and cultural practices related to astronomy, calendars, and natural phenomena. According to modern anthropological and archaeological research, the earliest human beliefs centered around two key aspects: the worship of heaven and earth, and ancestor veneration.
Most ancient festivals developed from rituals performed to honor the gods of heaven and earth, express gratitude to ancestors, and pray for blessings and protection against evil. The evolution of New Year’s celebrations encapsulates both philosophical principles and the understanding of natural cycles.
In the early days of observing celestial phenomena and measuring time, the phrase “Dou Bing Hui Yin” (the return of the Dipper Handle to the Yin position) marked the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year. The concept of the “year” originates from ancient calendars, with “Sui” (year) referring to the term “She Ti” (the original system of cyclical years), which was also known as “Sui Xing” (Jupiter) or “Tai Sui” (Great Year). Over time, this multi-syllabic terminology was simplified into the single character “Sui” (year).
a term still found in historical texts such as Erya and Records of the Grand Historian, which correlate this concept with the traditional cyclical calendar system. According to this system, the year begins when the handle of the Big Dipper points slightly east of due north in the lunar month known as “Jian Yin,” and then rotates clockwise in a continuous cycle.
In traditional Chinese culture, this cyclical system is closely associated with cardinal directions, the Eight Trigrams, and the Twelve Branches, with the position of Yin representing the transitional point between the end and the beginning of a year. As described in the Book of Changes (I Ching), “Gen is the trigram of the northeast, where all things end and begin anew.”
As the twelve lunar months complete their cycle, the last month is associated with the Chou direction (north-northeast), and the new year begins once again when the Dipper Handle returns to the Yin position. This marks the return of spring, the renewal of the earth, and the beginning of a new year.
In traditional agrarian societies, the arrival of spring and the endless cycle of renewal held profound significance. This gave rise to a rich array of customs and traditions associated with the New Year. Although the introduction of the combined lunar-solar calendar system resulted in variations in the specific dates of New Year celebrations, the core framework and many customs have been passed down through generations.
The Spring Festival, which evolved from early New Year sacrificial rituals, is rooted in the practice of offering thanks to the gods of heaven and earth and paying homage to ancestors at the start of the year, while also driving away evil and praying for a prosperous new year.
The origin and development of the Spring Festival was a gradual process, shaped and refined over time. As an integral part of Chinese traditional culture, the festival embodies the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese people and serves as a record of the rich and diverse social and cultural practices of ancient times.
*Fireworks Show For Chinese New Year.
*Chinese Spring Festival.
Traditional Customs🫧
The rituals and customs associated with traditional festivals form an essential part of the cultural fabric, blending various regional practices over time to establish some well-defined traditions, many of which are still observed today. These customs can generally be categorized into a few key aspects: honoring deities in harmony with the seasons, venerating ancestors to maintain family bonds, driving away evil to ensure safety, and engaging in leisure activities for relaxation and enjoyment.
Although the Spring Festival officially falls on the first day of the lunar new year, the celebrations are not limited to that day alone. The preparations begin days in advance, starting with the “Little New Year” at the end of the lunar calendar year.
People engage in various activities known as “busy New Year preparations,” such as offering sacrifices to the kitchen god, cleaning the house, shopping for the New Year, putting up red decorations, bathing, and decorating homes with lanterns. Despite the variety of activities, they all share a common theme: bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
Buying New Year's Goods🛒
China’s New Year customs are rich and diverse, with different traditions emerging across various regions, each showcasing unique characteristics in the North and South. Despite regional variations, preparing and purchasing New Year’s goods and gifts is a near-universal practice throughout the country during the Spring Festival.
These goods, collectively referred to as “New Year’s goods,” encompass everything from food, clothing, accessories, and decorations (such as red banners) to gifts for visits during the holiday. The process of buying these items is known as “shopping for New Year’s goods,” and it is an essential activity for celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Cutting New Year’s Meat🥩
A traditional saying goes, “On the 26th day of the last lunar month, cut the New Year’s meat,” referring to the preparation of meat for the upcoming celebrations. The inclusion of “cutting New Year’s meat” in festive traditions originates from a time when meat was a rare luxury in agrarian societies, and it was only during the New Year that people could afford to enjoy it. Hence, it became known as “New Year’s meat.”
Kitchen God Worship🧚
The worship of the Kitchen God traces back to ancient fire-worship customs. As noted in ancient texts, “the stove (kitchen) creates food.” The Kitchen God is responsible for overseeing the household’s cooking fires and food, and later, his role expanded to assessing human behavior and bestowing blessings or punishments accordingly. Worshipping the Kitchen God has a history of thousands of years in Chinese folk culture and reflects the common people’s longing for prosperity and abundance.
Sweeping the Dust🧹
In folk tradition, there is a custom known as “sweeping the dust” on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month. This marks a day of thorough cleaning as households engage in a major year-end cleanup, sweeping dust and removing cobwebs from homes and courtyards. This practice symbolizes ridding the home of the old (as “dust” is a homophone for “old” in Chinese) to usher in the new. It reflects the desire to sweep away misfortune and bad luck in hopes of a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Putting Up New Year’s Decorations
On the 28th, 29th, or the 30th of the last lunar month, families begin putting up “New Year’s red” decorations. These include spring couplets, door gods, New Year paintings, the character for “fortune,” banners, and window paper-cuts, all collectively referred to as “New Year’s red” due to their festive red color symbolizing good fortune.
Staying Up Late for New Year's Eve
The tradition of staying up late on New Year’s Eve, known as “keeping watch on the year,” dates back to ancient times. Homes are brightly lit, symbolizing the arrival of the new year, with families gathering to celebrate. Lamps and candles burn throughout the night, a practice known as “illuminating the year,” as they believe it invites good fortune in the coming year.
New Year’s Money🧧
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, elders give “lucky money” to younger family members. In traditional culture, this money symbolizes protection from evil spirits and wishes for safety. Initially, it was believed that children were particularly vulnerable to malevolent forces, and the “lucky money” was thought to ward off these dangers. In another custom, younger people give this money to their elders, symbolizing a wish for longevity.
Gods' Procession
During the New Year or other festive occasions, people hold processions to invite deities’ statues from temples and parade them through the streets. This tradition, known as “Gods’ Procession,” is meant to signify the gods descending to bless the people and ensure peace for the coming year. The parade is accompanied by drums, gongs, lion and dragon dances, acrobats, and other lively performances, blending worship with celebration.
New Year's Sacrifice⛩️
On the morning of Chinese New Year’s Day, people welcome the new year by offering sacrifices to the “Year God.” Known as the “Tai Sui” in Chinese mythology, the Year God governs the year’s fortunes and misfortunes. The tradition of offering sacrifices to this deity remains widespread, especially in regions like Guangdong, where the custom is still robustly observed.
Temple Fairs🛕
Visiting temple fairs is a traditional activity during the Spring Festival. Major temple fairs, such as those in Guangzhou and Beijing, include diverse performances like puppet shows, martial arts exhibitions, and lantern festivals, blending spiritual, folk, culinary, and commercial cultures.
*Chinese New Year Temple Fairs.
Paying New Year Visits
Starting from the second or third day of the Chinese new year, families visit relatives and friends to exchange New Year’s greetings. This tradition, known as “New Year’s visits,” fosters family ties and friendships while offering blessings for happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.
Setting Off Firecrackers🎇
An old custom known as “opening the door with firecrackers” marks the beginning of the new year. Every household sets off firecrackers as their first action of the new year to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Firecrackers were originally intended to ward off evil spirits, and over time, they have become a symbol of celebration and good fortune, adding a festive atmosphere to the New Year’s celebrations.
Lighting Prosperity Fires
On the 15th day of the new year (Lantern Festival), people light bonfires, a tradition known as “lighting prosperity fires.” These fires, often made from burning straw or leftover firecracker paper, are meant to symbolically burn away misfortune and welcome prosperity for the new year.
*People are buying goods for Chinese Spring Festival.
*Paste spring festival scrolls。
Global Influence 🌏
The Chinese Spring Festival has now spread to nearly 200 countries around the world. According to incomplete statistics, nearly 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, the Philippines, and Mauritius, have officially designated the Chinese Spring Festival as a public holiday, either for the entire country or for specific cities.
As reported on February 11, 2024, during the Chinese Spring Festival, the Techo International Airport project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, hosted lion and dragon dances, put up Spring Festival couplets, hung lanterns, and prepared red envelopes and holiday gift packages for employees. Both Chinese and Cambodian staff celebrated the New Year together in a lively atmosphere.