The Chinese zodiac corresponds to various years people were born, and each animal is believed to influence the lives of people born in that year. The Year of the Snake is seen as one of renewal and regeneration and aligns with people born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 and 2025.

Lunar New Year festivals and prayers are marking the start of the Year of the Snake around Asia and the world.

Chinese New Year, AKA the Spring Festival, is a commemoration of the new lunar calendar, and is celebrated in many South Asian countries including Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as in many diaspora communities around the globe.

The Chinese New Year, which starts on Wednesday, is one of the busiest times of the year in China. Homes and restaurants are decorated in red, while many residents travel around the country to spend time with loved ones.

This ancient Chinese festival is a time to put everything from the previous year in the past and look forward to all that will come in the new year. For those who participate in this two-week celebration,

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, begins on Jan. 29, 2025 and festivities typically last for 15 days.

Asian American communities around the U.S. and around the world are ringing in the Year of the Snake Wednesday, including in New York City. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival,