
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a celebration that dates back over 4,000 years. Its origins are rooted in ancient agrarian societies that marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring—a time to honour deities and ancestors, and to celebrate the harvest. The festival has evolved over millennia, absorbing various cultural and religious influences, yet it remains a cornerstone of Chinese culture, symbolising renewal, prosperity, and family unity.
The Year of the Wood Snake: What Lies Ahead
In 2025, we welcome the Year of the Wood Snake. In Chinese astrology, the Snake is the sixth sign of the zodiac and is associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation. The Wood element adds qualities of growth, creativity, and flexibility. Together, the Wood Snake signifies a year that encourages personal development, strategic thinking, and adaptability. It’s a time to shed old habits and embrace new opportunities, much like a snake shedding its skin.

Culinary Delights: Chinese New Year Food
Food plays a central role in Chinese New Year celebrations, with each dish carrying symbolic meanings. The reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve is particularly significant, bringing families together to enjoy a lavish feast. Some traditional foods include:
Fish (鱼, Yú)
Symbolising abundance and prosperity, as the word for fish sounds like 'surplus' in Chinese.
Dumplings (饺子, Jiǎozi)
Resembling ancient Chinese ingots, they represent wealth and are often filled with meat or vegetables.
Nian Gao (年糕)
A sweet glutinous rice cake that signifies higher achievement or prosperity in the coming year.
Spring Rolls (春卷, Chūnjuǎn)
Their golden, cylindrical shape resembles gold bars, symbolising wealth.
Festive Flourishes: Chinese New Year Decorations

Homes and public spaces are adorned with vibrant decorations to welcome the New Year. Common adornments include:
- Red Lanterns: Hung to ward off evil spirits and attract good luck.
- Spring Couplets (春联, Chūnlián): Pairs of poetic phrases written on red paper, placed around doorways to convey auspicious wishes.
- Paper Cuttings (剪纸, Jiǎnzhǐ): Intricate designs featuring symbols like the Snake, flowers, or Chinese characters for luck and happiness.
- Fu Characters (福, Fú): The character for ‘blessing’ or ‘good fortune’, often displayed upside down to signify that luck has arrived.
These decorations not only beautify spaces but also serve to invite prosperity and happiness into the home.
Traditions and Activities: Embracing the New Year
Chinese New Year is rich with customs and activities designed to usher in good fortune:
Cleaning the House
Before the New Year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away ill-fortune and make way for incoming luck.
Fireworks and Firecrackers
Lit to scare away evil spirits and the mythical beast Nian, as well as to celebrate the coming of the New Year.
Lion and Dragon Dances
Performed to bring good luck and drive away negative energies.
Visiting Relatives and Friends
Known as 'bainian' (拜年), it's a time to pay respects and exchange blessings.
Giving Red Envelopes (红包, Hóngbāo)
Elders present younger family members with red envelopes containing money, symbolising the passing of wealth and good wishes.
Gambling During Chinese New Year

Gambling has long been intertwined with Chinese New Year festivities. Engaging in games of chance during this period is thought to attract prosperity and test one’s luck for the coming year. Traditional games such as Mahjong, a tile-based game requiring skill and strategy, are particularly popular. Card games and dice games also feature prominently in household gatherings.
The act of gambling during the New Year is more than mere entertainment; it’s steeped in cultural beliefs about fortune and fate. Winning is seen as an auspicious sign, indicating that luck will favour the victor throughout the year. Conversely, losses are often brushed off, with participants attributing them to the ebb and flow of luck.
Gambling in Today’s Chinese New Year
In modern times, the nature of gambling during Chinese New Year has evolved. While traditional games remain popular, there’s a growing trend towards online gaming and betting, reflecting broader technological shifts. However, it’s important to note that gambling is illegal in mainland China, with the exception of state-run lotteries. Despite this, many people still engage in informal gambling during the New Year festivities, viewing it as a cultural tradition rather than a vice.
In regions where gambling is legal, such as Macau and Hong Kong, casinos often experience a surge in activity during the Lunar New Year. These establishments frequently host special events and decorate their venues to align with the festive spirit, attracting patrons who wish to try their luck in an auspicious setting.

Chinese New Year 2025: Final Thoughts
As Chinese New Year continues to be celebrated around the world, there’s an ongoing balance between preserving traditional customs and embracing contemporary practices. The integration of modern elements, such as online gaming, into age-old traditions.