On January 29, Asian American communities across the United States will come together to celebrate the Year of the Snake through a variety of festivities, including family gatherings, parades, traditional meals, community carnivals, and fireworks. In many countries throughout Asia, the celebration of the lunar new year spans several days, becoming a vibrant occurrence, especially within cultural neighborhoods in diaspora communities where the event is marked with joy and enthusiasm.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is designated as the Year of the Snake. Different Asian nations adopt unique methods of celebrating the new year, and some might follow alternate zodiac systems.

The Lunar New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea, is an important cultural event observed in several Asian nations. This year, the White Snake Temple in Taiwan is expected to draw many visitors who wish to pay their respects. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, festivities include energetic displays featuring dragon puppets and drumming.

The celebration begins with the lunar calendar’s first new moon and lasts for 15 days, concluding with the first full moon. Since the lunar calendar is aligned with moon cycles, the specific dates for the festival can vary each year, typically falling between late January and mid-February.

In the context of the lunar new year, each year is associated with a specific animal from the Chinese zodiac, which consists of a cycle of 12 animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Chinese folklore tells of a deity who summoned animals to bid him farewell, with only 12 answering the call. The Vietnamese zodiac slightly diverges from the Chinese, featuring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo in place of the ox.

In Chinese culture, snakes elicit mixed feelings of fear and admiration. While venomous snakes often symbolize darkness, they hold a special place in mythology as “little dragons.” The act of shedding their skin is seen as a sign of renewal and good fortune. Furthermore, these creatures are often linked with themes of love and happiness, alongside the turtle and crane, which symbolize longevity.

As the lunar new year approaches, vendors in China and other regions produce festive merchandise, including lanterns and plush toys featuring snakes with smiley faces designed to appeal to younger celebrants rather than frighten them.

The celebrations are rich with ancient customs and beliefs. One popular legend tells of a fierce monster named Nian, who would feast on humans at the start of the new year. To avert the monster, people would use the color red, create loud noises, and set off fireworks. Today, the emphasis during the Lunar New Year revolves around dispelling bad luck while welcoming prosperity and good fortune. Red remains the standout color, symbolizing positivity and happiness in many Asian cultures. People often adorn themselves in red attire, decorate with red lanterns, and exchange red envelopes containing money for luck in the new year. Traditional games and gambling are common during this festive period.

Rituals honoring ancestors are prevalent. Many Korean families take part in “charye,” where women prepare food offerings and male family members serve them. A key element of this ritual is “eumbok,” where the entire family shares in the food and seeks blessings from their ancestors for the upcoming year. Vietnamese families also honor their ancestors by cooking special dishes and placing them on home altars.

Some Indigenous groups also take part in the Lunar New Year festivities, including members of Mexico’s Purepecha community.

In the U.S., Asian American communities host parades, carnivals, and various events featuring cultural performances, lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and traditional foods. Many families clean their homes and acquire new items like furniture, decorating with colorful flowers such as orchids.

Some Asian American Christians embrace this occasion as a cultural event, with several Catholic dioceses and other churches observing it as well.

Culinary traditions vary across cultures when celebrating the New Year. Signature dishes often include dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, and various types of meats. For instance, in Chinese culture, “changshou mian,” or long-life noodles, are traditionally eaten with wishes for a long and healthy life. In Vietnam, dishes like banh chung and banh tet are essential, made of glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork belly, wrapped in banana leaves. Koreans enjoy tteokguk, a soup featuring thinly sliced rice cakes, while in some parts of Hong Kong, snake soup is a culinary highlight as the Lunar New Year approaches.