Lunar New Year is celebrated by billions of people in East Asia and beyond. We asked Saint Ignatius parishioner Vanita Louie to share how her family celebrates the holiday, also known as Chinese New Year.
January 29, 2025 is Chinese New Year’s! This year (Lunar year 4721) celebrates the wood snake. Chinese New Year is considered the most important holiday in Chinese culture, because it marks the beginning of a new year. It traditionally begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar. As a new year it offers a fresh start, but it is also a time for family reunions, and an opportunity to seek good fortune and prosperity for the coming year. Families prepare for the new year by cleaning and getting rid of any unwanted clutter; we decorate our homes and ourselves in anything red, the color that symbolizes good luck.
On New Year’s Day, families gather (wearing red) and pass out red envelopes filled with money to all the children and each other. We will eat festival food and sweet candies.
Also, on New Year’s Day, there are some things you should not do, including sweeping, washing or cleaning, because you just might wipe out good luck. You should also not wash your hair or bathe and finally you should not speak about anything negative or argue. If you do, this will signify a bad year for you.
Some facts about the year of the snake:
The year of the snake is the sixth sign in the Chinese zodiac.
The snake year is an excellent time for spiritual and personal growth since it encourages self-discovery.
The 2025 element, wood, lends the snake's traits greater versatility, growth, and creativity.
The snake is associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation. Some believe the snake is a strong protector, while others believe it can be untrustworthy.
In San Francisco, you can attend the Flower Fair in Chinatown on January 25 & 26 and the grand Chinese New Year parade on February 15th, the largest Chinese New Year parade outside of Asia.
Many other Asian cultures also celebrate the lunar new year, but this is how we do it in our home. Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year!
Vanita Louie, St. Ignatius parishioner, on behalf of Anti-Racism committee