What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a 15-day annual celebration widely observed in China and various other Asian countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia. Celebrated by millions across the globe, it is one of the most prominent and enduring Asian festivals. Each Lunar New Year is associated with one of 12 animals from the Chinese zodiac, and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake.
When is Lunar New Year?
This year, Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, Jan. 29 and ends on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The exact dates change every year because they are based on the cycle of the moon.
The first day of Lunar New Year takes place in late January or early February on the same day as the second (or occasionally, third) new moon after the winter solstice. The last day of Lunar New year aligns with the full moon that follows.
How to greet someone who is celebrating Lunar New Year:
“Happy Lunar New Year”, or simply “Happy New Year”, is a common way to greet someone celebrating this holiday. You can also say “Kung Hei Fat Choy” (in Cantonese) or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (in Mandarin), both of which translate to “Wishing you prosperity”.