Introduction

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year (January 29, 2025), the Nuence-MTC team has chosen to revisit the many festivities and traditions that mark this period. Indeed, the Chinese New Year, also called the Moon Festival or Spring Festival, is a celebration deeply rooted in Chinese culture. It is one of the most important festivals in China but is also celebrated by Chinese communities around the world.

The Millennial Traditions of Chinese New Year

The origins of Chinese New Year date back thousands of years and are rooted in ancient agricultural celebrations. Legend has it that villagers were able to ward off the cruel late-winter monster Nian by discovering its weaknesses: light, noise, and the color red.

Celebrations and Customs
First of all, it is about getting together as a family for the festivities. It is a rare occasion when family members, often scattered across the country or even abroad, can come together. It strengthens family bonds and allows for precious moments to be shared together.

• The Big Clean-Up : Before the New Year, families clean their homes to drive out bad energy and make way for luck.
• Red Decorations : Red is a lucky color. Houses are decorated with red lanterns, posters and Chinese characters.

• On Lunar New Year's Eve , it is customary to serve several traditional dishes considered to bring good luck: fish, ravioli, imperial rolls, sticky rice cakes, etc.
• Red Envelopes (Hongbao) : These money-filled envelopes are given to children and unmarried youth by elders and parents. It is a way to convey blessings and wishes for prosperity in the new year. With the advent of technology, digital hongbao have become popular, especially through apps like WeChat, which allow people to send virtual red envelopes.

• Dragon and Lion Folk Dances : These dances are traditional performances that bring good luck and prosperity.
• Going to the temple : The Chinese pray for health, prosperity and good luck in the new year. Temples are often very busy at this time, with incense burning, offerings being made and various religious ceremonies being held.

• Fireworks and Firecrackers : Used to ward off evil spirits (especially the monster Nian).

The New Year festivities end with the Lantern Festival (元宵节).
Lanterns of all shapes and sizes, often decorated with traditional designs, poems or riddles are made to be hung in streets, homes and temples.

The Chinese celebrate this day by releasing lanterns and eating sweet rice balls called "tangyuan."

Chinese Zodiac Signs

The Chinese zodiac corresponds to a 12-year cycle in which each year is associated with an animal. The twelve animal signs therefore change every year, they are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Each year is thus represented by one of these animals, which are associated with specific characteristics. This 12-year cycle is based on an ancient legend and astrological observations.
In addition to animals, each year is also associated with one of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). These elements are integrated into a 10-year cycle, where each element is associated with two consecutive years (a yin year and a yang year). The elements therefore change every 2 years. For example, 2024 and 2025 are both WOOD years, associated respectively with the Dragon (2024) and then the Snake (2025).

In this context, each of the 5 elements brings the following meaning to the year:
- Wood: Growth and vitality.
- Fire: Dynamism and passion.
- Earth: Stability and pragmatism.
- Metal: Structure and discipline.
- Water: Flexibility and insight

The combination of the 12 animals and the 5 elements creates a 60 year cycle (12 animals x 5 elements). Each year in this unique cycle has a specific combination of an animal and an element, influencing the characteristics and energies of that year.

Please note: when you want to know your Chinese astrological sign, you should not base yourself solely on your year of birth. Indeed, unlike our solar Gregorian calendar, the Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the Moon. The date of the Chinese New Year is therefore flexible, which has an impact on the start and end dates of each sign.

The year 2025: the Wood Serpent

The Snake symbolizes wisdom, strategy, and intuition. The qualities of the Snake are righteousness, willpower, humor, beauty, and intelligence. Snakes do not like failure and can be bad losers. They tend to be suspicious and jealous.

Although Yin Wood is the main element of 2025, interactions with the other elements are essential to understand the whole of the year's energies. According to the cycles of generation and control of the elements, Wood feeds Fire and Fire creates Earth (ashes). Thus for 2025, the Fire and Earth elements will moderate or strengthen certain characteristics of Yin Wood.

Energy and “forecasts” for 2025

Here are some predictions and energies that will characterize this year:
Dominant energies: These are those of the combination between the Yin Wood element (soft, flexible and growing energy) and those of the sign of the Snake which symbolizes wisdom, strategy and intuition.
Growth and transformation : The Wood element promotes growth and development, both personally and professionally. This year will be conducive to the emergence of new ideas and their strategic realization.
Wisdom and Introspection : The Snake is associated with wisdom and reflection. In 2025, the energies will encourage meditation, the search for inner truth and the analysis of complex situations.
Balance and Stability : The elements of Wood, Fire and Earth will be predominant this year, creating a balance between growth, transformation and stability. This can bring a period of stability and security, while allowing for positive changes.
Challenges and opportunities : As every year, there will be challenges to overcome, but
The intelligence and prudence of the Snake will help navigate these obstacles successfully.

Conclusion
In today's modern world, it is heartening to see that the traditions and customs of the Moon Festival enjoy a strong popular following and continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

The Nuence-MTC team wishes you a very happy new year 2025 under the sign of the Snake and the energies of Yin Wood.