Google welcomes the 2025 Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year 2025 with a colorful doodle that pays tribute to the Year of the Wood Snake.
This design features a stylized snake adorned with floral patterns and decorative elements that evoke the arrival of spring. With warm tones and motifs symbolizing renewal, this doodle highlights the spirit of transformation, growth, and creativity, characteristics associated with this Chinese zodiac sign.
The design incorporates cherry blossoms, a symbol of hope and rebirth, while an orange placed on the snake’s head represents prosperity, a tradition in Chinese New Year festivities.
Why is the Lunar New Year important in 2025?
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the most significant celebrations in Asia and among Asian diaspora communities.
This event marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle and boasts over 3,000 years of tradition. In 2025, the first day of the lunar calendar begins on January 29, kicking off two weeks filled with rituals, family gatherings, and cultural symbolism.
The Year of the Snake is particularly significant, as this Chinese zodiac animal is associated with wisdom, introspection, and positive changes. According to tradition, this year is expected to be an opportunity to transform challenges into opportunities and find personal and collective balance.
READ ALSO. What is the lucky color for Chinese New Year 2025?
How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
Lunar New Year celebrations vary across regions but share common rituals:
- Home decoration: Families thoroughly clean their homes to remove the bad luck of the previous year. Then, they decorate with red and gold colors, symbolizing good fortune and happiness. Highlights include red lanterns, Chinese couplets, and figures of the corresponding zodiac animal.
- Fireworks: To scare away Nian, a mythical monster that fears loud noises, streets are filled with the sound of firecrackers and fireworks during the night.
- Traditional meals: Gathering with family and friends to share a meal is one of the most important aspects. Dishes include fish, chicken, dumplings, sweet rice cakes, tangerines, and pineapples, all carrying meanings of abundance, unity, and prosperity.
- Red envelopes: A highly anticipated moment is the distribution of red envelopes filled with money, symbolizing good wishes and luck for the new year.
Most searched on Google about Chinese New Year 2025
With the arrival of the 2025 Chinese New Year, searches related to this festivity have reached unprecedented levels, reflecting growing global interest in this cultural celebration.
Although the United States has a strong community celebrating Chinese New Year, search data reveals that South Korea leads as the country with the most interest in the topic, followed by Singapore and Australia.
“Lunar New Year merch” and Disney: a winning combination
Interest in “lunar new year merch” reached an all-time high globally this week, with the Disney Store standing out as one of the most popular searches.
This reflects how global brands are capitalizing on the festivity by launching themed products, from clothing to accessories and collectible items inspired by the Lunar New Year.
Red envelope design and themed emojis trending
Searches for “cute envelope design” doubled this week, demonstrating the popularity of red envelopes, an essential element in Lunar New Year traditions. Additionally, the term “red envelope emoji” was a trending topic, as were searches related to emojis such as the snake and Chinese New Year, showcasing people’s desire to share the celebration on digital platforms.
Most searched traditions: cleaning, haircuts, and food
Among Lunar New Year traditions, the most frequent searches included:
- Red envelopes: Symbols of good luck and prosperity.
- Cleaning: Represents leaving behind the bad luck of the previous year and starting with renewed energy.
- Haircuts: A ritual for refreshing and attracting good fortune.
- Food: The most searched dishes were long noodles, symbolizing longevity, and spring rolls, associated with wealth.
When does Chinese New Year 2025 begin?
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on January 29, 2025, with the appearance of the first new moon of the year.
This event will mark the beginning of the Year of the Snake, a Chinese zodiac animal associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation. Celebrations will extend until February 12, including traditions such as family dinners, lion dances, fireworks, and home cleaning to attract good fortune.
The Year of the Snake is considered an ideal period for reflection and intelligent planning. This sign also symbolizes renewal and personal growth, which Starbucks has seamlessly integrated into its designs.
What does the Year of the Snake mean?
The Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac, represents a period of transformation, wisdom, and intelligent strategies. This sign is associated with reflective, perseverant, and enigmatic individuals. Additionally, 2025 will be a year governed by the wood element, which will bring a focus on growth and adaptability to those born under this sign.
People born between January 29, 2025, and February 16, 2026, will be under the influence of the Snake, characterized by their analytical capacity, inner strength, and reserved nature.