Chinese culture

Chinese New Year 2025: traditions and meanings

Publié le

11/6/2025

Chine et JO

Immerse yourself in the heart of the 2025 Chinese New Year festivities! It started on January 29 and will continue until February 12. This celebration, which is also called the Spring Festival, brings together millions of Asian communities around the world. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese traditions and, why not, to learn the language. Discover all the secrets of this iconic event!

What is Chinese New Year?

The Chinese New Year is the most important event of the year in China and for Asian communities around the world. Also called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, it marks the start of a new year according to the Chinese calendar based on lunar cycles. It starts to The second new moon after the winter solstice, which means it falls between end of January and mid-February. The festivities last on average fortnight and end with the famous Lantern Festival, where the streets are illuminated by magnificent colored lanterns. Each year is associated with One of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, including the dragon, the tiger, the rabbit or the snake, which is the animal of Chinese New Year 2025.

The dates of Chinese New Year 2025

The Chinese New Year 2025 Who started the January 29, 2025 marks the start of the year of Wood snake. Unlike Western New Year, which follows the Gregorian calendar, the date of Chinese New Year varies every year.

What does the Year of the Wood Snake mean?

Each year in the Chinese calendar is associated with an animal from Chinese zodiac and to one of the five Chinese elements (OR). The year 2025, under the sign of Serpent de Bois (Wooden Snake), promise regeneration and growth. In Chinese culture, **the snake () **is an animal respected, symbol of wisdom and transformation. The element **Wood () **gives it qualities of growth, flexibility and long-term strategies. This year will therefore be favorable for positive changes, to strategic decisions And at personal development.

Chinese New Year traditions

Chinese New Year is a holiday rich in traditions and symbols. Here are some of the most popular customs:

  • The big cleaning : Before the start of the new year, families clean their homes to get rid of bad energies and make way for luck.
  • The red envelopes (hóngbāo,) : They contain money and are given to children and young adults as a sign of prosperity.
  • Fireworks and firecrackers : They are used to drive away evil spirits and to welcome the New Year with joy.
  • Festive meals : Families gather around traditional dishes such as dumplings (jiãozi, oud) and rice cakes (niángāo,), symbols of prosperity.
  • The red decorations : Red is the lucky color in China. Houses are decorated with lanterns and greeting calligraphy.
  • The dragon and lion dances : These traditional performances, accompanied by drums and cymbals, bring luck and prosperity. The dragon, a symbol of power and wisdom, is carried by several dancers who bring it to life through fluid and dynamic movements.

Useful little vocabulary for your Chinese New Year

If you want to exchange with Chinese friends or simply enrich your lexicon, here are some essential expressions:

  • New Year (xīn nián kuài lè) — Happy New Year!
  • 恭喜发财 (gōng xī fā cái) — Good prosperity!
  • Vin (hóng bāo) — Red envelope
  • O. (chūn jié) — Spring Festival (another name for Chinese New Year)
  • 年兽 (nián shòu) — The legendary beast associated with the origins of the festival
  • In(guò nián) - Spending the Chinese New Year

How do you get the most out of the party?

To make the most of Chinese New Year 2025, dive into the festive atmosphere by participating in the numerous activities organized in your city, such as parades, dragon and lion dance shows, or fireworks. For total immersion, enjoy traditional dishes such as dumplings, longevity noodles or fish, symbols of prosperity and happiness. Do not hesitate to give or receive these famous red envelopes (Wine), a gesture that brings good luck. You can also decorate your home with red lanterns and paper cut-outs to attract good fortune. Well, why not Take this opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture by watching traditional movies, by discovering calligraphy or by learning a few words of Mandarin ? A great way to celebrate this holiday under the sign of sharing and discovery!

Learn Chinese with MandarinMaster!

The Chinese New Year 2025 is the perfect opportunity to start or deepen your learning of Chinese! With Mandarin Master :

✅ Learn the essential basics of Mandarin

✅ Make progress from the first few days, even without experience

✅ Play while practicing: games, flashcards, interactive lessons

✅ Practice pronunciation with native speakers

✅ Discover cultural stories to better understand China

Join our community of learners now and do some Chinese New Year 2025 the start of a new linguistic adventure!

The Chinese New Year 2025 is much more than a simple celebration: it is an immersion in a rich and fascinating culture. By learning a few words of Chinese and discovering associated traditions, you will get closer to this ancient culture while having fun. Take this opportunity to learn the Chinese language with MandarinMaster and start the year of Wood snake off to a good start! 🎉🐍

Happy New Year! New Year!