This year, Lunar New Year begins today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, and ends Feb. 12. Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th century when it gained global recognition through Chinese immigrant communities, is a centuries-old tradition rooted in the lunar calendar.

The Lunar New Year usually starts sometime between late January and mid-February. This year, the festivities begin on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake. In mainland China, official celebrations last for seven days as a public holiday.

Today marks the beginning of the Chinese “year of the snake.” The lunar calendar is different from the Gregorian in that it is primarily a “moon cycle” calendar rather than solar, which is what we Westerners follow.

Based on the Chinese zodiac, the Lunar New year goes by a 12-year cycle. Each year is represented by a different animal, and 2025 welcomes the year of the snake (the sixth animal

Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world's biggest annual movement of humanity.