Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China and many other Asian communities. More than a dozen countries celebrate new year at this time, including Vietnam and Korea. It is an annual 15-day festival that begins with the new moon between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 in Western calendars. The festival lasts until the following full moon. The holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors.
Chinese New Year this year falls on Feb. 17 and ends with the Lantern Festival on March 3. Celebrations last up to 16 days; the Chinese public holiday lasts from Tuesday to Feb. 23.
The Chinese zodiac, or Sheng Xiao (生肖), is a repeating 12-year cycle of animal signs and their attributes, based on the lunar calendar.
The Lunar New Year marks the transition from one animal to another. The Year of the Snake, which began on Jan. 29, 2025, ends on Feb. 16. Tuesday begins the Year of the Horse. The Year of the Horse last came in 2014.
In preparation for the Lunar New Year, houses are thoroughly cleaned to drive away any bad luck from the previous year. It is also advised that you pay off any debts ahead of the new year, in part, to close the books at the end of the year and start another year fresh.
