
2025: The Year Of the Snake
Chinese New Year falls this year on Wednesday the 29th of January, with celebrations taking place across China and the rest of the world as we move from the Year of the Dragon into the Year of the Snake.
In China, the new year and associated Spring Festival is the main holiday in the calendar, with festivities already well under way and continuing up until mid February, with the conclusion of the Lantern Festival. Millions of workers, including most of the carpenters and artisans who produce Shimu's furniture, have already made the journey back to their home towns to spend the holiday with their families.
Festive celebrations may feature colourful parades, festivals, firecrackers, and fireworks at midnight to dispel bad luck and invite good fortune for the upcoming year.
Chinese families across the generations will gather together for a dinner on the eve of New Year. The family elders will present children with red envelopes ('red pockets') containing 'lucky money' - a tradition that started as far back as the Han dynasty and that is thought to bring blessings and good luck. These days modern technology has crept in, with the money often transferred digitally via 'red envelope' apps on smartphones!
Are you a Snake?
According to legend, when the Jade Emperor called for a great meeting of the animals on Earth, the Snake hitched a ride with the horse to help him cross the river and at the last second sprang out of his hiding place, spooked the horse narrowly beating him to the meeting. The snake is therefore the sixth animal in the twelve year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
The snake is a cautious, introverted observer, cool and mysterious in behavior owing to their suspicious and insecure nature, yet their armour conceals abundant sensitivity, wisdom, and passion that will surely surprise their few confidants.
If you were born in one of the following years, unless your birthday is in January or early February, you will have been born in the Year of the snake:
1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 and 2025.
Lucky Things
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Lucky numbers: 1, 8
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Lucky colors: Red, Black
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Lucky directions: West, South
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Lucky flowers: Camelia, Orchid
Unlucky Things
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Unlucky numbers: 0, 5
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Unlucky colors: Pink, Purple
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Unlucky directions: East
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