Lunar Year of the Snake: Time for big changes ahead

Lunar New Year, the most significant holiday in many Asian cultures, marks a fresh start — one steeped in centuries-old traditions, family reunions, and symbolic gestures of prosperity.

In 2025, the world ushered in the Year of the Snake on Jan. 29, a time believed to bring transformation, intelligence, and resilience.

The 12-year Chinese zodiac calendar cycle is represented by 12 different animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

What is Lunar New Year like?

For millions, this isn’t just the start of a new calendar cycle; it’s a deeply personal, often emotional time.

Families travel great distances to be together, gathering around elaborate feasts featuring dishes meant to usher in luck — dumplings for wealth, fish for abundance, and sticky rice cakes for progress.

Red dominates the decor, from lanterns strung across streets to the envelopes filled with crisp banknotes handed to children and unmarried adults.

The festival extends for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival, where glowing orbs light up the night sky, symbolising hope and the end of winter’s grip.

The Lantern Festival, held on the 15th and final day of the Spring Festival (Feb. 12 in 2025), marks the perfect end to weeks of Lunar New Year celebrations.

Known as Yuan Xiao Jie in Mandarin, it symbolises the shift from winter to spring, and the arrival of the first full moon of the year.

In Xi’an, China, the ancient City Walls are often illuminated with beautiful lanterns and light displays, as seen in a rehearsal for the Spring Festival Light Show on Feb. 1, 2024.

This tradition is all about lighting lanterns to dispel darkness and bring hope for the year ahead — a celebration of renewal, light, and new beginnings.

Year of the Snake

Interestingly, the Snake, the sixth sign in the Chinese zodiac, is associated with wisdom, adaptability, and depth.

The snake, linked to those born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025, is often symbolised by intelligence, resilience, and love.

Unlike the more exuberant Dragon or the industrious Ox, the Snake’s energy is subtler: thoughtful, strategic, and sometimes enigmatic.

Past Snake years have coincided with transformative global events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Some believe this year will bring significant shifts, though the zodiac is more about personal introspection than global fate.

A modern take on tradition

Across the world, especially in diaspora communities, Lunar New Year celebrations have evolved.

In cities like New York, San Francisco, and Sydney, parades featuring lion dances and firecrackers bring communities together, reinforcing cultural identity while welcoming outsiders to join the festivities.

Even traditions like gifting red envelopes (hongbao) have gone digital, with millions sending virtual money through apps.

Economic realities, however, shape celebrations. With rising living costs, some families are scaling back on lavish meals and extravagant gifts, prioritising meaningful connections over material abundance.

But the spirit remains unchanged: Lunar New Year is about renewal, family, and the belief that each year brings new possibilities.

It’s normal to feel anxious with all the uncertainty, but embracing these changes can make a big difference. The focus should be on taking care of both personal health and the well-being of loved ones.

In the end, it’s important to remember that change, while challenging, is essential for personal growth.

Ahmad Nazir is a UAE based freelance writer