Lunar New Year: Millions Across Asia Usher in the Year of the Snake

Millions across Asia will gather with their families on Wednesday to celebrate Lunar New Year, marking the transition from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake. Also known as Chinese New Year, or chunjie, this festival signifies the beginning of a new lunar year in the traditional Chinese calendar. It is a time for family reunions, festive feasts, and prayers for prosperity in the year ahead.

Beyond China, the holiday is widely observed in South Korea and Vietnam, where Chinese cultural influences have shaped local traditions. These celebrations span several days and emphasize filial piety. In Korea, families partake in sebae, a deep bow of respect to elders, while young people dress in traditional hanbok attire. Elders, in return, offer monetary gifts and serve seollal, a special rice cake soup. Similarly, in Vietnam, the festival includes the giving of red envelopes filled with money to younger generations as a symbol of good fortune.

Like the Western New Year, the Lunar New Year is a time to let go of the past and welcome in the future. Many people clean their homes before the festivities begin and put up red decorations, a color believed to bring good luck. Families will practice traditional customs and have a big meal together, and they’ll often visit temples to pray for luck and fortune.

In China, the Lunar New Year is celebrated by a massive migration of people from cities to their hometowns, resulting in traffic jams and clogged train stations. The event, known as chunyun, is so significant that it has its own moniker: “Spring Migration.”

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The Year of the Snake is an important one for Chinese believers because it represents wisdom, transformation, and charm. Those born in the year of the snake are believed to be contemplative and calculated, encouraging them to think carefully about their choices and long-term goals. The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, with each animal representing a year.

Besides prayer, celebrations for the Lunar New Year include eating dumplings, playing traditional games, and setting off firecrackers and fireworks to scare away evil spirits. The holiday is a great opportunity for the Chinese to enjoy eight consecutive public holidays, which gives them plenty of time to spend with family and friends.

This year’s Spring Festival falls on January 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on February 12. Pulse Events will showcase various cultural traditions with its annual Spring Festival, featuring melodic dubstep icon ILLENIUM headlining night one at Brooklyn venue Avant Gardner’s Great Hall. Supporting acts are Taiwanese producer JVNA, New Yorker Zack Martino, ftwrd, DRUU, minijoy, and KIMOSABI. Pulse is committed to bridging the East and West through music, furthering its mission of creating immersive experiences that foster community and connection.