What is the date of Chinese New Year 2025, and how does the rare occurrence of a 'Black Moon' contribute to marking the 'Year of the Snake'?
When does Chinese New Year fall in 2025? The last new moon on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, which is a rare black moon according to Timeanddate, will mark the start of a lunar countdown. This will lead to one of the year's most culturally significant new moons, precisely one lunar cycle later on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
This January new moon will initiate the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Year of the Snake. Spanning over 15 days, this festivity is based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which is dictated by the moon's phases and the Earth's revolution around the sun.
Here's what you need to know about Chinese Lunar New Year 2025:
What is Chinese Lunar New Year?
Celebrated extensively in China and globally, the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is one of the most significant cultural events. This 15-day celebration begins with the lunar calendar's debut New Moon and concludes with the Lantern Festival on the Full Moon. The Chinese Lunar New Year typically falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 each year.
During this period, the moon is in alignment between the Earth and the sun, thus appearing to disappear from our perspective.
When is the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2025?
In 2025, the Chinese Lunar New Year commences on Jan. 29 and concludes on Feb. 12 with the Lantern Festival, marked by the rise of the Full Moon, referred to as the "Snow Moon."
What is the Chinese Lunar New Year Zodiac Animal in 2025?
2025 introduces the "Year of the Wood Snake," lasting until Feb. 16, 2026, when the "Year of the Horse" begins.
The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle of animals. Each zodiac year incorporates one of the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, or water—resulting in a 60-year cycle. Hence, while the animal repeats every 12 years, the animal and the element together repeat only every 60 years. For example, the last "Year of the Wood Snake" was in 1965.
What is a 'Black Moon'?
A 'black moon' is a calendar peculiarity. The term is commonly used to denote the second new moon in a single month. This scenario is relatively uncommon but inevitable, given that a new moon occurs approximately every 29.5 days. Therefore, if a new moon occurs at the start of a month, another one may appear at the month's end. Recent instances of monthly black moons include Western North America in November 2024, while December 2024 witnessed two new moons on Dec. 1 and 30.
Wishing the audience an unobstructed view of the night sky and open minds.
The Chinese Lunar New Year in 2025 falls on January 29, marking the beginning of the Year of the Wood Snake according to the Chinese zodiac. If you're wondering, the Chinese new year animal for 2025 is the snake. This celebration, spanning over 15 days, will coincide with the 'Year of the Wood Snake,' as the zodiac follows a 12-year cycle with five elements.
Interestingly, the year of the dragon will precede 2025, ending on February 16, 2025, making 2024 the Year of the Dragon 2024. As for the Chinese New Year dates, the Year of the Wood Snake will commence on January 29, 2025, and conclude on February 12, 2025, with the Lantern Festival.
For those curious about the rare 'black moon' phenomenon, one occurred on December 30, 2024, marking the start of a lunar countdown to the Chinese New Year 2025. This particular black moon occurring just before the new year is a unique event, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the festivities.
