5 Facts About Chinese New Year 2025: The Year of the Wood Snake

Who’s already eyeing those red dates and extended holidays at the end of January 2025? With Isra Mi’raj, Chinese New Year 2576 Kongzili.

Chinese New Year is always a special moment to enjoy various unique Chinese traditions. The excitement of Chinese New Year celebrations is usually felt in Chinatown areas or shopping centers. 

The celebration of Chinese New Year 2025, which falls on January 29, marks the beginning of the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese calendar. Here are some facts you need to know.

The Meaning of the Wood Snake Year

The year 2025 marks the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese Zodiac. Known as the sixth sign in the 12-year zodiac cycle, the Snake is celebrated for its wisdom, intelligence, and adaptability. It also symbolizes the courage to embrace change and tackle challenges with smart solutions.

Adding the wood element into the mix brings a sense of growth, stability, and harmony. This unique combination inspires optimism, creating opportunities to strengthen relationships and balance ambitions with life values.

The Wood Snake year is the perfect time to chase your dreams, embark on new adventures, and lay down strong foundations for the future. If exploring new destinations is on your bucket list, there’s no better time than now!

Unique Chinese New Year Traditions in Indonesia

Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia are rich with meaningful traditions that bring families together and spread good fortune.

Interestingly, these traditions go beyond Chinese communities, as people of all backgrounds join in the festivities. Here are some beloved customs

• House cleaning to welcome new fortune

Before the celebrations, it’s customary to thoroughly clean the house to sweep away negative energy and welcome good luck. However, cleaning on the day of Chinese New Year itself is taboo, as it’s believed to “sweep away” incoming fortune.

• Festive red decorations

Red is the color of luck, joy, and protection, making it the heart of Chinese New Year decor. From lanterns to angpao envelopes, you’ll see red everywhere. Many also wear red outfits to embrace the spirit of the celebration.

• Giving and receiving angpao

Who doesn’t love angpao? These iconic red envelopes filled with money are handed out to children and unmarried family members as a way of sharing blessings and wishes for a bright future.

• Watching the lion dance

The lion dance (along with dragon dances) is a hallmark of Chinese New Year entertainment. Believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits, these lively performances are a must-see during the festivities.

Shopping malls and Chinatown areas often host stunning lion dance shows to celebrate the occasion.

Chinese New Year Meaningful Specialties

Like opor and ketupat during Eid al-Fitr, Chinese New Year is celebrated with dishes steeped in symbolism.

Each dish represents hopes for happiness, prosperity, and good fortune in the year ahead. Here are some iconic Chinese New Year specialties and the meanings behind them:

• Kue Keranjang

This sticky, sweet cake is the centerpiece of Chinese New Year feasts. Its stickiness symbolizes strong family bonds, while its sweetness represents the hope for a joyful year ahead.

• Octagonal Sweets

These treats, presented in an octagonal container (symbolizing infinite luck), signify the wish for a sweet and fortunate year.

• Whole Milkfish

Served whole from head to tail, this dish symbolizes a prayer for continuous blessings throughout the year. It also serves as a reminder to act thoughtfully in life.

• Jiaozi (Dumplings)

With a shape resembling ancient gold bars, dumplings are a symbol of prosperity. Families often prepare and enjoy them together, reflecting the spirit of unity and cooperation.

• Mandarin Oranges

This fruit is synonymous with good luck, as its Chinese pronunciation sounds similar to “gold.” Oranges also signify happiness and abundance.

Unique Chinese New Year Celebrations in Indonesia

Indonesia adds its own flavor to Chinese New Year, blending traditional Chinese customs with local cultural elements. These unique celebrations make the holiday vibrant and diverse across the archipelago.

• Grebeg Sudiro in Solo

This festive tradition combines Javanese and Chinese culture. Held in the Pasar Gede area of Solo, it features a parade of “mountains” of basket cakes distributed to residents, accompanied by lion dances and traditional performances.

• Water War Festival in Selatpanjang, Riau

Known as the Cian Ciu Festival, this celebration involves residents splashing water on each other as a symbol of blessings and fortune. While reminiscent of Thailand’s Songkran Festival, it has sadly been on hiatus in recent years.

• Cap Go Meh in Singkawang

Cap Go Meh, marking the 15th and final day of Chinese New Year celebrations, is celebrated in full force in Singkawang, West Kalimantan.

The Tatung parade is the highlight, featuring participants in trance performing extreme stunts. Similar cultural festivities also take place in Bogor’s Chinatown.

Destination Recommendations for Chinese New Year 2025

Take advantage of the long weekend to immerse yourself in the festive Chinese New Year atmosphere at these top destinations:

• Chinatowns in Jakarta, Bogor, and Tangerang

Discover the charm of vibrant Chinatown districts like Glodok in Jakarta, Pasar Lama in Tangerang, and Suryakencana in Bogor, where you can enjoy the festive spirit, decorations, and delicious street food.

• Solo’s Cultural Fusion

Solo is a hub of Javanese-Chinese cultural integration. Experience the lively Grebeg Sudiro and visit temples that showcase the harmony of these two traditions.

• Hakka Heritage on Bangka Island

Known for its rich Hakka culture, Bangka Island offers a serene Chinese New Year experience with prayers at historic temples and delicious local delicacies.

• Singkawang: The City of a Thousand Temples

Famous for its Cap Go Meh celebrations, Singkawang is a must-visit. Even if you can’t make it for Cap Go Meh, celebrating Chinese New Year here is just as rewarding, thanks to the city’s rich traditions and stunning temples.

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 with TRAC Car Rental

Chinese New Year 2025 is just around the corner! Make this festive season unforgettable by celebrating with your family and friends.

Whether you’re visiting relatives, exploring vibrant Chinatown areas, or heading to exciting tourist destinations, TRAC has you covered with convenient and reliable car rental options.

TRAC makes it easy with the choice of self-drive car rental or with a driver. You can book directly on the homepage of the TRAC website as well as the TRACtoGo application. Download the app on Google Playstore or Apple Appstore.

In the TRACtoGo app, you can choose the type of vehicle, duration, location of use, and payment practically.

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