Chinese New Year – What’s It All About?
Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve, which means we are about to enter the annual period of business and factory closures in China. If your shipment hasn’t left the country by now, then it is likely be still there in two weeks.
The Year Of The Dragon is about to come to an end, which will be replaced by the snake from tomorrow. So, what else do we know about this annual celebration?
When
This year’s national holiday celebrations in China start on Wednesday 29th January, lasting for two weeks and finishing on Wednesday 12th February with the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th Lunar day of the new year.
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Only the first seven days are officially public holiday dates, January 29th–February 4th, but most businesses are closed for the entire two week period.
Travel
The holiday period is very much about family. Chinese nationals often go to extraordinary lengths to be with their family during this period and travel back home from all corners of the globe. The days preceding Chinese New Year sees the the largest migration of people on the planet.
Traditions
One tradition is for individuals to thoroughly clean their houses (chucheng) prior to the event to ward off bad spirits and bad luck. During the Lantern Festival people decorate their homes and businesses with red lanterns, and parades line streets, where dancers create long, brightly coloured dragons that are believed to bring good luck.
The giving of red envelopes (hongbao) and sharing meals full of optimism further strengthens family bonds, marking a time of hopefulness for the year ahead.
Zodiac Animals
Every Chinese Lunar Year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals. According to folklore, your animal year determines your personality traits and characteristics.
2025 is the Year Of The Snake, which symbolises wisdom, intuition and transformation. It is said believed that people born in the spring and summer of a snake year are considered the most powerful and positive.
The snake is known for its intelligence, but can also be secretive and jealous, snake years are sometimes referred to as little dragon years.
Ideal partners for people born in the Year Of The Snake are Oxes, Roosters and Dragons.
Your Animal
Your animal is determined by the lunar year you were born. However, those born in the calendar months January to March will need closer inspection, as they may fall in the previous lunar year.
Rat – 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Ox – 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Tiger – 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Rabbit – 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
Dragon – 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Snake – 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Horse – 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Sheep – 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Monkey – 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Rooster – 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Dog – 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Pig – 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Supply Chain
Chinese export production during the holiday season usually suffers from a 2/3 week lag and traditionally, there is a drop in demand immediately following the Chinese New Year period.
This year the new carrier alliance structure and new schedules will be taking shape following Chinese New Year.
