Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, fell on January 29, 2025. Lunar New Year is a holiday that marks the start of the first month on the lunisolar calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun relative to earth. Twelve different animals are represented on the Chinese New Year calendar which change annually, each having their own specific meanings and characteristics. 2025 marks the beginning of the year of the Snake.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in a multitude of ways, and there are traditions that are meant to bring good luck for the upcoming year. So, what colors or clothing should one wear or have nearby to bring good luck? According to a New York Times podcast, wearing red is especially favored, as it symbolizes good luck, prosperity and vitality, and is even believed to scare evil spirits away. According to an ancient Chinese legend, a monster named Nian would attack villages on New Year’s Eve. A child dressed in red scared away Nian, and so subsequently people began wearing red to ward off evil spirits (nytimes.com).
Despite the negative feelings that snakes may generate, the year of the snake is sure to provide a variety of positive possibilities. As the year begins, it brings along with it transformation, renewal, and spiritual growth, according to an Indian newspaper,. Snakes are known for their special ability to shed their skin, symbolizing the process of letting go of the old in order to embrace the new (hindustantimes.com).
As the year of the snake comes around every twelve years in the Chinese zodiac, this means that babies born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025 are all babies of the snake zodiac. Snake zodiacs tend to seem mysterious, additionally having great talent and being deep thinkers, according to an Asian travel website. They are known for their calm demeanor, resourcefulness and ability to analyze situations before taking action (traveloka.com).
Sophomore Safia Atayee said, “I am truly excited about the upcoming year for several reasons, mainly the fact that I am able to start fresh. First and foremost, I look forward to deepening my relationship with God. Additionally, I aim to focus on my goals and gain a clearer perspective on them so that I can hopefully achieve them later on this year, which is already off to a promising start. I am excited to see what more I can accomplish.” As the year of the snake is a time of wisdom, transformation, and creativity and is associated with good fortune and longevity, it is the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and embrace a new beginning.
Sophomore Ceiba Zurita said, “To avoid bad luck in the New Year, my family sets off big fireworks and firecrackers. It is such an exciting time and always brings good luck.” While not everyone celebrates Lunar New Year, each family has its own unique tradition for welcoming the new beginning and inviting good fortune into their lives.
Lunar New Year celebrations range from decorating with lucky colors to eating traditional meals with family. The most popular Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, lumpia, or even steamed fish, according to the New York Times. Other families celebrate with mandu or peking duck, which symbolize better luck for the future while also promising a satisfying meal (nytimes.com).
For some, the upcoming year also honors the late great Basketball Star Kobe Bryant, also known as the Black Mamba. Bryant was a beloved athlete who passed away in 2020 in a tragic helicopter crash and is now being memorialized in the year of the snake through limited edition brand collabs such as Nike’s “Year of the Mamba” collection that was inspired by the “Nike Kobe 5 Lunar New Year” sneaker, which honors both Bryant’s legacy as well as the Lunar New Year (hypebeast.com).
As the Year of the Dragon comes to an end and the Year of the Snake begins, take this time to reflect, appreciate, and embrace the new possibilities in life. As the Year of the Snake symbolizes transformation, renewal, and personal growth, it presents the perfect opportunity to alter or revamp into the person you aspire to become. It’s a time to shed old habits that no longer serve us and make room for new ways of thinking, being, and doing.