Celebrating Lunar New Year in the Year of the Wood Snake

Perhaps many didn’t realize it, but one of the benefits of being Asian is that we’re privileged to celebrate two New Years!

It seems we often have many reasons to celebrate, and for that, I am truly grateful. Although I’ve been busy (and haven’t been blogging for weeks), I hope that this Year of the Snake will give us more prosperity and strength.

I realized that here in Australia, not many people celebrate the Lunar New Year, and although there are some happenings in the city, the regional areas are quite toned down. I miss this kind of celebration, and I currently wish that I was in the Philippines, or at least in any country in Asia where they hugely celebrate the Lunar New Year. 

Perhaps, next year I’ll be planning to celebrate in Shanghai!

Interestingly, the metaphors and meaning of the Snake in Chinese literature and mythology are polar opposites. On the one hand, the snake belongs to the yin, associated with darkness, dampness, and femininity. Poisonous snakes are often associated with evil women who seduce men and suck their yang to nourish their yin.

However, snakes also have positive symbolism. For example, they are regarded as little dragons (xiaolong 小龍), and the skin snakes shed is referred to as the dragon’s coat (longyi 龍衣), symbolizing good luck, rebirth, and regality. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness, a theme beautifully illustrated in the traditional folk tale, ‘The Legend of the White Snake’. The snake can also represent wealth and wisdom, and in traditional Chinese culture, they are often grouped with the turtle and the crane as a symbol of longevity.

The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle that links each year to an animal sign. The 12 animal signs are Rat (shu 鼠), Ox (niu 牛), Tiger (hu 虎), Rabbit (tu 兔), Dragon (long 龍), Snake (she 蛇), Horse (ma 馬), Sheep (yang 羊), Monkey (hou 猴), Rooster (ji 雞), Dog (gou 狗) and Pig (zhu 豬). The order of the animal signs is fixed, with the Snake being sixth in the cycle, hence the Year of the Snake (shennian 蛇年) in 2025. Last year, 2024, was the Year of the Dragon (longnian 龍年) and 2026 is the Year of the Horse (manian 馬年). Each year also corresponds to one of the five basic elements (wuxing 五行) in Chinese cosmology, namely Metal (jin 金), Wood (mu 木), Water (shui 水), Fire (huo 火) or Earth (tu 土), creating a 60-year cycle.

Also forming the sexagenary cycle are the ten Heavenly Stems (tiangan 天干) and twelve Earthly Branches (dizhi 地支), each possessing different attributes. In 2025, the Heavenly Stem is Yi 乙, representing Wood, while the Earthly Branch is Si 巳, representing Fire, thus establishing the year of Yisi 乙巳. Therefore, individuals born in 2025 may be called ‘Wood Snake’ or ‘Fire Snake’ or ‘Wood Fire Snake’. The five elements cyclically interact with one another; as a result, Wood gives rise to Fire. This interconnectedness results in the Wood Snake exhibiting a notably complex personality, embodying traits of both Wood and Fire.

You can celebrate in many ways, but keep in mind that celebrating the Lunar New Year means not only wishing for more prosperity but also being grateful for the blessings that you’ve got in the past years. It is about celebrating with the people who are an important part of your life and becoming the best version of yourself in the future.

However, it is ALWAYS nice to receive ang pao from the elders.

Before the New Year begins, give your home a thorough cleaning. This symbolizes sweeping away bad luck and making room for good fortune. Just remember to finish cleaning before New Year's Day to avoid sweeping away the incoming luck.

Red symbolizes good luck and joy, while gold represents wealth and prosperity. Adorn your home with red lanterns, couplets, and gold ornaments to invite positive energy.

Red envelopes filled with money are given to children and unmarried adults. This tradition is believed to bring good luck to both the giver and the receiver. Make sure to use crisp, new bills and avoid giving amounts with the number four, as it is considered unlucky.

The New Year's Eve dinner is one of the most important meals of the year. Families gather to enjoy dishes that symbolize prosperity, such as fish (for abundance), dumplings (for wealth), and noodles (for longevity).

Firecrackers are believed to scare away evil spirits and bad luck. The loud noise is thought to welcome a prosperous and joyous New Year. Just be sure to follow local regulations and safety guidelines.

Or you can just stream a fireworks display from YouTube right in the comfort of your home.

Happy Lunar New Year and may all the abundance in the world showers your lovely home!