Usher in the Year of the Snake this 2025 by brushing up on all the etiquette and lore surrounding it
Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) remains the most significant event in the Chinese calendar. Celebrating the arrival of spring, it also marks the end of one Chinese zodiac cycle and the beginning of another.
It’s the perfect time to reconnect with loved ones and indulge in festive treats like pineapple tarts. But of course, Chinese New Year is so much more than just feasting – it's steeped in legends, traditions, and etiquette worth exploring. Read on for our comprehensive guide to help you usher in the Year of the Snake this 2025.
RECOMMENDED: The best Chinese New Year 2025 events in Singapore and The best restaurants to have reunion dinner and celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore
The reason for this festival all began with the legend of Nian – an ancient beast that terrorised villagers, ate crops, livestock, and sometimes even children. When the villagers realised that the beast was half bull with a lion head, they learned of its weakness: the colour red, fire, and loud noises. With that knowledge, Nian was defeated. As such, the tradition of wearing red, lighting fireworks, and the lion dance during the new year was born.
During the New Year season, it is a common sight to see a sea of red. With vibrant clothing, scarlet packets, and crimson lanterns and banners with touches of gold accents, red is undoubtedly the colour of the season. This is because the colour red is considered to bring good luck and fortune to all. Up until today, traditional touches can still be seen on modern styles with distinctive Chinese motifs from qipaos and cheongsams, to decorations and ang baos.
Lion dance performances are a common sight (and sound) during the Chinese New Year period. These are meant to bring in good fortune while warding off evil spirits and any ill luck. Highly skilled dancers, dressed in vibrant red and gold costumes form the 'lion' – with one lead dancer controlling its head and front legs lion heads – and deliver high-energy performances synchronoised with the loud, pounding beats of traditional drums and cymbals. These performances are often done at temples and stores, but if you're lucky enough to have a neighbour inviting a lion dance troupe over to their house, you might just get to witness one right in front of your doorstep.
Another common tradition is for families and friends to gather and have reunion dinners. These dinners are typically held on the eve of the New Year, with a hearty steamboat or hot pot feast at the centre of it all. But first, this starts with the tossing of yusheng (also known as lo hei) – a type of salad often topped with fish – while exclaiming prosperous wishes for the new year. It is believed that the higher the salad is tossed, the more abundance and auspiciousness you bring to your life and those around you. So, toss high and get the table messy.
The first thing one does during Chinese New Year is to 'bai nian' which is to wish each other luck with auspicious greetings. People often exchange Mandarin oranges with each other as a sign of blessing, and unmarried folks often receive a red packet containing an even amount of money from married family members or friends.
Monochrome fashion may look chic, but Chinese New Year is all about bright colours - mainly red. Wearing black and white is traditionally associated with mourning, so avoid wearing them, especially on the first day of the New Year. Inject some colour into your wardrobes with clothing piece and accessories like red belts or red shoes to welcome in the year with an auspicious start.
Remember to finish all your cleaning up before the start of Chinese New Year because sweeping and taking out the trash symbolises the sweeping away of wealth and fortunes or dumping out the good luck from the house.
In Chinese culture, one’s head is associated with the beginning. In the Chinese language, hair (头发) has the same character as fa in facai (发财) which means “to become wealthy”. To cut or wash your hair is seen as washing away one’s fortune and luck. Some even go to the extreme of not showering altogether to retain their luck.
Be careful what you say during this time because the Chinese believe that whatever is said in the beginning of the year sets the precedent for the year ahead. Foul language, speaking negatively, or words like “die” will get you disapproving looks. Combat this with well wishes of fortune and health to your relatives for a more auspicious start.
Staying up late on the eve of Chinese New Year is said to bring longevity to one’s parents. The later you stay up, the longer they will live. In some households, children even stay up through the night – but not in the dark. Instead, switching on all the lights at home is believed to bring good luck and prosperity into the house as it represents a bright year ahead and chases away the bad luck from the previous year.
Discover Time Out original video
