Xuan Zhou welcomes the Year of the Snake, reflecting on its themes of wisdom, transformation, and intuition, and celebrating the rich traditions of the Spring Festival. by Xuan Zhou | PhD studentHappy Year of the Snake! The Year of the Snake started on 29 January, 2025 and brings with it wisdom, transformation, and intuition. As a Chinese tradition, this year holds special significance, especially as it marks the first Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) since it was officially recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. During the Spring Festival, people decorate their homes with red lanterns, couplets, and paper-cuttings. Families gather for a festive reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve, enjoying symbolic dishes such as fish (for prosperity) in Southern China and dumplings (for wealth) in Northern China.We set off fireworks and firecrackers to ward off bad luck and welcome good fortune. Children receive red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money as a blessing for the year ahead. There are a variety of celebratory activities, including lion and dragon dances, temple visits, and traditional performances. Here’s to a year of wisdom, transformation, and intuition for all of us!Learn about Intangible Cultural Heritage on the UNESCO website Publication date 14 Jul, 2025
