Chinese New Year

January’s new moon will signal the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year (also called Chinese New Year), the Year of the Snake. This 15-day celebration is based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which uses the moon's phases and the Earth's orbit around the sun. It begins Wednesday, January 29th this year.

Chinese Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival, is one of the most significant celebrations in China and is observed by millions of people worldwide. 

2025 sees the beginning of the “Year of the Wood Snake,” which will continue until Feb. 16, 2026, when the “Year of the Horse” begins.

The Chinese zodiac features a 12-year cycle of animals. Each zodiac year also incorporates one of five elements—wood, fire, Earth, metal, or water—creating a 60-year cycle. So, while the animal repeats every 12 years, the animal and the element together repeat only every 60 years. For example, the last “Year of the Wood Snake” was in 1965.