01/29/2025
This year, we welcome in the Wood Snake, which begins on February 29, 2025 and ends on February 16, 2026. Snakes are known to be wise, charming, elegant, and mysterious creatures. Compared to the more energetic and glitzy persona of the Dragon, a Snake (born in the years 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 and 2025) has a more subtle charm and secretive nature.
The Snake has a strong Fire element, so it may indicate a more chaotic time going into the year ahead. Things that were once hidden will now come to the surface, and boundaries will be pushed. However, we can take advantage of the snake’s more cautious, observant nature to reflect and re-evaluate old strategies or decisions before making the next move. Better to be safe than sorry!
Some traditions to help reign in good fortune, long life, and prosperity into the New Year include:
1. Visit a temple to make offerings to the deities and ward off bad luck.
2. Light Firecrackers and wear or decorate with the color red:
Wearing red clothing, setting firecrackers or making loud noise, and hanging red banners on houses have become a traditional way of warding off evil spirits and influence in the coming New Year.
3. Prepare and eat foods that represent good luck, prosperity, and long life, such as:
Cakes and puddings: The word for cake or pudding in Chinese is “gao,” but it also sounds exactly like “tall.” Thus, Chinese people eat daikon rice cakes, for instance, to represent growth, success, or improvement.
Steamed fish: The word fish, or “Yu,” in Chinese sounds the same as the word for “surplus” even though the characters are written differently. Thus, steamed fish is almost always part of the New Year celebration feast.
Noodles: Long noodles symbolize a long, healthy life, so we call them “long life noodles.”
Dumplings: The shape of Chinese dumplings resembles that of golden ingots, so they symbolize wealth and prosperity.
Sweet rice dumplings: These represent harmony and reunion with loved ones.
We hope everyone has a wonderful, festive New Year! Gong Hei Fat Choy! #恭喜发财 ！🧧🎉🥳
