Lunar New Year 2025: Celebrating the Year of the Snake
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival (Chūnjié, 春节) or Guònián (过年) in Mandarin, is one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture. It marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is celebrated with family gatherings, festive meals, and cultural traditions passed down for generations.

The Year of the Snake: What Does It Mean?
The Year of the Snake begins on January 29, 2025, and lasts until the Lantern Festival on February 12, 2025. In Chinese culture, the snake is associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation. People born in this year are thought to be intelligent, determined, and highly adaptable. This year is also extra special because it’s the first Spring Festival after being added to the cultural heritage list, recognizing its deep significance in Chinese culture and history.
Lunar New Year at HongDe Elementary
At HongDe, cultural education shapes our students’ understanding of the world. Celebrating the Lunar New Year is a wonderful way to explore traditions, values, and the importance of cultural appreciation. Here’s how we marked the occasion this year!
🧧 Wearing Red for Good Luck
Students and staff dressed in red, the color of luck, happiness, and prosperity in Chinese culture. In Lunar New Year traditions, red is believed to ward off bad luck and evil spirits, bringing in a fresh start for the year ahead.

🐉 Becoming a Dragon!
One of the most exciting moments of our celebration was students taking on the role of a dragon! The dragon dance symbolizes strength, courage, and unity, and our students had an amazing time bringing this tradition to life.


🎨 Lunar New Year Activities
Our students participated in a variety of Lunar New Year activities, like learning about customs and traditions, creating festive decorations to bring good fortune, understanding the symbolism of the Year of the Snake, and exploring the meaning behind lucky foods.


Why Cultural Education Matters at HongDe
At HongDe Elementary, we believe that celebrating cultural diversity helps students develop the following:
✅ A deeper understanding of global traditions
✅ Respect for different cultures and backgrounds
✅ A sense of community and inclusivity
By incorporating celebrations like the Lunar New Year into our school culture, we encourage curiosity, learning, and meaningful connections among our students.

🎉 Happy Lunar New Year! 🐍 新年快乐!
Wishing all of our students, families, and staff a year filled with wisdom, happiness, and prosperity!