CHINESE NEW YEAR - YEAR OF THE WOOD SNAKE 🧧🐍🥳🎊

What is it?

The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, marks the start of a new year based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar, which combines the movements of the Moon and the Sun. This vibrant celebration usually falls between 21 January and 21 February.

Celebrated by Billions in many countries especially in East and Southeast Asia., 

including Vietnam (where it is called "Tết") and Korea (where it is called "Seollal"), it 

involves family reunions, cleaning homes, giving red envelopes, and enjoying 

symbolic foods. It's a time for renewal, hope, and honouring traditions.

This year, we welcome the Year of the Snake, starting on 29 January. The festivities kick off the evening before and continue for a dazzling 15 days of joy and tradition, also referred to as the Spring Festival.

Why animals?

Each year in the Chinese zodiac is represented by one of twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, 

rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, and one of five 

elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This creates a 60-year cycle.

Legend has it that the Jade Emperor summoned all the animals for a race on New 

Year's Day. The clever rat hitched a ride on the kind ox and jumped ashore first, 

becoming the first zodiac animal. The pig, who stopped to eat and nap, ended up last. 

The Jade Emperor then named a year after each of the 12 animals in order of their 

arrival.

Customs and traditions

The Importance of the Colour Red: Red is the colour of luck! People wear red 

clothes and give red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried adults, 

spreading blessings and good fortune.

Food, Food, Food: Special foods are a must! Noodles symbolise long life, fish is 

often included in the reunion dinner because the Chinese word for fish, "yú," sounds 

like the word for surplus or abundance. Eating fish is believed to bring prosperity in 

the coming year. Sticky rice cakes (Nian Gao) signify progress and growth. 

Dumplings, shaped like ancient Chinese silver ingots, symbolise wealth and are a 

staple during the Lunar New Year.

Sweeping Away Bad Luck: Before the new year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to 

sweep away bad luck. On the first day of the new year, sweeping is avoided to keep the good luck intact.

Dazzling Decorations: Red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings adorn homes, 

warding off evil spirits and inviting happiness.

Spectacular Celebrations: Fireworks and firecrackers light up the sky scaring away 

evil sprits and welcoming the new year with a bang, parades fill the streets, and lion 

and dragon dances bring communities together in a display of strength, power, and 

good luck. 

Spiritual Dimension: Many people visit temples to pray for blessings and good 

fortune. Incense is burned, and offerings are made to deities and ancestors, seeking 

their protection and guidance in the year ahead.

Did you know?

The Lunar New Year is the largest annual human migration, as Billions travel to reunite with their families.

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Unite the Union! Champion diversity and inclusion by contacting the Unite Race Action Plan team at LBG.SUPPORT@UNITETHEUNION.ORG or chat with us at our stalls. Find out more on Viva Engage!

Join Unite the union today - www.uniteinlbg.org/join

In solidarity

Your Unite in LBG team