Chinese New Year 2025: CNY Traditions to Bring Family Together

Chinese New Year 2025 is a much-anticipated happening in every part of our planet – and it is around the corner. It is loved by young and young-hearted – and it promises a whole lot of excitement, surprises, and engaging things to do. This holiday is about culture, family, feelings, and emotions – and it boasts lots of traditions. Chinese New Year 2025 will be not just a festival but also a one-of-a-kind opportunity to strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories. The BusyKidd team invites you to dive into the spirit of CNY 2025 in Singapore and learn more about its fantastic heritage. When is Chinese New Year 2025? What to do for Chinese New Year 2025 in Singapore? What to wear for CNY 2025 in Singapore? What are some of the must-follow Chinese New Year 2025 family traditions? Make yourself comfortable, as we are going to figure it all out! 

Related Reading: Check out our guides to Chinese New Year Decorations, Chinese New Year Goodies, New Year’s Fireworks in Singapore.

Chinese New Year 2025: The Story Behind The Beloved Holiday

Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) is one of the major festivals not just in the Celestial Empire but in all other corners of our beautiful planet. What is more, it is among the most significant celebrations for families. It commemorates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. BTW, the Chinese New Year is a festival with an eventful background and more than three and a half thousand years old story.

The Chinese New Year’s date depends on the lunar calendar – it falls on the first day of the first Chinese lunisolar month – between January 21 and February 20. Traditionally, the festival lasts from CNY Eve to the Lantern Festival.

When is Chinese New Year in 2025? Chinese lunar calendar shows us that we will commemorate CNY 2025 on January 29, 2025. How long is the Chinese New Year in 2025? CNY 2025 will last until February 2, 2025.

Is Chinese New Year 2025 a public holiday in Singapore? Yes, CNY 2025 is on the list of public holidays in Singapore.

Each year is represented by one of twelve zodiac animals from the Chinese zodiac – and each animal has its distinctive characteristics. It is even considered that our character depends on the Chinese zodiac of our birth year.

What is the Chinese New Year animal for 2024? 2024 is the year of the mighty Dragon. What is the Chinese New Year animal for 2025? Chinese New Year 2025 zodiac is the Snake, which is associated with wisdom, elegance, and enigma.

During the festival, you can see Chinese New Year animals literally in every detail – in decorations, presents, and even festive dishes. So, get ready for the CNY 2025 festivities under the sign of a wise and enigmatic Snake.

The Chinese New Year festival is known for a great number of customs and traditions that ensure you spend important time with your family, experience thrilling activities, and create precious memories. Let us check some of the must-follow family traditions for this CNY 2025!

Chinese New Year 2025: Family Traditions

Chinese New Year 2025 is a perfect opportunity to meet with your family and friends, wish your nearest and dearest all the best for the next year, eat delectable Chinese New Year’s day meals, sing charming Chinese New Year songs, and experience exciting CNY 2025 happenings.

CNY 2025 festivities in Singapore take place islandwide. Street Light Up, Chingay Parade 2025, River Hongbao, brilliant performances, lively fairs and markets, and more – the whole of the city-state turns into a bright venue for the CNY 2025 festival. 

All Singaporeans and city guests can find themselves in the very heart of Chinese New Year 2025 in Chinatown. The streets of Chinatown are lit up with myriads of mesmerizing lights and decorated with Chinese New Year symbols – dragons, lions, snakes, etc. Brilliant shows, vibrant fairs, and CNY 2025 spirit in the air – it is definitely a must-visit place for your Chinese New Year 2025 celebration.

So, let us learn more about the traditions to follow with your loved ones this CNY 2025!

Bai Nian

This is the first thing one should do during CNY 2025 – from the very 1st day of Chinese New Year and throughout the entire celebration of the festival. Bai Nian’s meaning is ‘to pay a visit.’ Bai Nian is an act of greeting and blessing.

Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year 2025 Eve

The highlight of Chinese New Year 2025 lies in the Reunion Dinner held on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Families gather around a table with traditional Chinese New Year dishes that stand for good fortune, success, and longevity. From steamed fish to dumplings, each dish carries its special meaning. Reunion Dinner on CNY 2025 Eve fosters a sense of togetherness and allows family members to gather, have a precious time in a heartwarming atmosphere, and share blessings for the upcoming year.

Families can choose from various options for their CNY 2025 Eve reunion dinner. Some may decide on a traditional variant by preparing the Chinese New Year food with their own hands, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere in their homes. This is exactly what the majority of Chinese families decide on. They gather at a family member’s home instead of a restaurant since it is the most important meal for Chinese families – especially for families with relatives living far away from home.

Alternatively, many families prefer the convenience of ordering takeaway or delivery of Chinese New Year meals. This offers them to enjoy the iconic CNY 2025 flavours without the hassle of cooking. It seems like an ideal balance between celebrating Chinese New Year 2025 traditions and managing busy schedules, doesn’t it? If you want to change scenery, take a break from daily duties, and enjoy a fuss-free CNY 2025 Eve, visiting a restaurant would be a great idea. Many dining venues prepare special Chinese New Year 2025 menus for a better celebration experience.

No matter which variant for your CNY 2025 reunion dinner in Singapore you choose, enjoy the most meaningful time with your nearest and dearest and let the Chinese New Year 2025 magic fill this night.

Exchanging Oranges for Chinese New Year 2025

Yes, it is a nice, must-follow tradition for CNY 2025. First of all, they are symbols of luck and wealth. Giving oranges is an act of exchanging prosperity with each other. By the way, there are always two oranges – to double the effect of exchange, so to say. Secondly, it is rather a tasty and healthy exchange, isn’t it?

Chinese New Year 2025 Goodies

CNY 2025 will not be complete without Chinese New Year goodies. Treating yourself and your nearest and dearest to traditional treats is a significant – and very delectable – tradition. Some of the most loved CNY 2025 goodies include Pineapple Tarts, Love Letters, Bak Kwa, Nian Gao, and a whole range of Chinese New Year cookies. By the way, these are not just delicious treats but also important symbols and wishes, so it is an excellent CNY 2025 gift for your family, friends, and colleagues.

You can find more helpful information on CNY 2025 goodies and places to find them in BusyKidd’s article.

Hong Bao Exchange for Chinese New Year 2025

One of the loveliest (and most appreciated by the little ones) Chinese New Year 2025 traditions is the exchange of ‘Hong Bao,’ also known as the red envelope, red packet, Hongbao, or ang pau. The Lucky Red Envelopes for CNY 2025 have money inside and signify good luck, success, and best wishes for the future year. Moreover, it is considered that Hongbao will keep evil from the little ones, keep them healthy, and give them a long life. Actually, it is more about the envelope itself than the present in it. This CNY 2025 exchange will not only bring joy to the recipients but also reinforce respect and gratitude within the family hierarchy.

Spring Cleaning for Chinese New Year 2025

Getting ready for Chinese New Year 2025 is much more than just festive decorations. Families engage in spring cleaning to clean their homes from the accumulated negative and bad feelings and get ready for a new life – a new beginning for this CNY 2025. Besides, this Chinese New Year 2025 activity teaches all representatives of your family to work as a team and achieve common goals. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but cleaning can be rather fun and inspiring.

Chinese New Year 2025 Decorations and Symbols

For CNY 2025, homes are adorned with beautiful decorations, mainly in red and gold, that illustrate good luck and wealth. Relatives gather to adorn their homes and create a heartwarming festive atmosphere for this Chinese New Year 2025.

Let us see the decorations one can use to adorn their places for CNY 2025:

• Red Chinese New Year Lanterns are considered to drive off bad luck
• Paper Door Banners with Happy CNY 2025 wishes
• Paper Cuttings of plants or animals – each with a special meaning and wish for CNY 2025
• Chinese New Year 2025 Paintings – usually with important figures and plants
• Red and Gold Balloons symbolising luck and prosperity

You can also adorn your home for Chinese New Year 2025 with plants and flowers. For example, Tangerine Tree illustrates wealth and good luck, Pussy Willows represent growth and prosperity, Bamboo signifies resilience and prosperity, and Orchids stand for fertility and abundance. You can also use candles, ornaments reflecting the CNY 2025 zodiac, tangerines and oranges, and more.

All those CNY 2025 decorations and symbols have a significant meaning and will ensure an incredible Chinese New Year 2025 charm in your home.

We have an idea! There is no better way to enjoy the Chinese New Year 2025 atmosphere and have a meaningful time with your little boys and girls than crafting Chinese New Year 2025 decorations, right? So, here are several variants for handmade decorations to craft with your little ones this CNY 2025:

• Chinese Paper Lantern Craft
• Paper Fortune Cookies
• Paper Lucky Red Envelopes
• Moving Paper Snakes
• Paper Chains
• Chinese Paper Fans
• And many others

Chinese New Year 2025 Wishes and Greetings

One of the most significant parts of the Chinese New Year 2025 celebration is spreading love and sincere wishes to your family, friends, colleagues, and all the people you meet. It is a great idea to add Lunar New Year greetings and wishes 2025 literally in every detail that surrounds you, including decorations, gifts, cards, etc. We have made a list of several traditional CNY 2025 greetings and hope it will be helpful!

Happy Chinese New Year 2025 greetings and wishes to family and friends:

• Wishing you a prosperous new year!
• May all your wishes come true!
• May all go well with you!
• To the one who adds sunshine to our family and brings joy into our lives, Happy New Year!
• Gong Xi Fa Cai greeting meaning ‘Wish you enlarge your wealth!’
• Kung hei fat choi greeting meaning ‘Congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!’
• May your new year be as bright as lanterns that light the sky.
• Sending wishes of health, wealth, and wisdom in the Chinese New Year 2025.
• Peace, safety, and happiness!
• Happy Lunar New Year 2025!

The most important thing is that your CNY 2025 greetings and wishes should be sincere and come from your heart.

Well, since we have already discussed Chinese New Year 2025 greetings, let’s move to CNY 2025 gift ideas!

Chinese New Year 2025 Gifts

Red envelopes, CNY 2025 goodies and snacks, decorations (especially those made with your own hands), plants and flowers are all great ideas for Chinese New Year 2025 surprises. Fruit baskets are also among the most popular variants. Yes, and Chinese tea sets are always an excellent idea. By the way, you can combine all of the above options in a charming Chinese New Year 2025 hamper.

In the meantime, kids would appreciate getting books, toys, school essentials, and other traditional presents for little explorers and young adventure seekers.

Traditional Customs

You already know that every Chinese New Year celebration includes many bright traditional customs, and CNY 2025 is no exception. Grab your kids and participate in the lion dance, dragon dance, and other mind-blowing, family-friendly activities. Be sure to attend the Street Light Up ceremony, as it is true magic. Explore CNY 2025 markets with an electrifying atmosphere and have great shopping. Dive into the iconic Chingay Parade 2025 with glittering processions and an incredible festive vibe. Don’t miss River Hongbao 2025 with outstanding live entertainment, street food, and cultural performances. And, yes, Chinese New Year 2025 fireworks are an absolute must for everyone in Singapore! You simply must become part of this miracle that will leave you speechless!

Traditional Clothes for Chinese New Year 2025

To dive even deeper into the essence of the CNY 2025, you can wear traditional Chinese clothes for the New Year celebration. Donning traditional qipaos or cheongsams for ladies and a classic changshan for gentlemen will ensure you look stylish and charming. By the way, what about a festive family look?

Opt for red and gold colours. It should be noted that buying a new set of clothes for the CNY 2025 festivities would be a great idea since purchasing and wearing new clothes to meet the CNY 2025 symbolises a new start.

Create New Traditions This CNY 2025

By the way, why don’t you create your own family traditions this Chinese New Year 2025? Invent something special to share with your family members and even leave it for future generations. Whether it will be visiting a charming restaurant with a heartwarming atmosphere and mind-blowing views of the festive city to admire each Chinese New Year, playing an enjoyable game with your loved ones on CNY Eve, gifting cute socks to all members of your family, or anything else – it will add an exceptional charm to your celebration and elevate the anticipation of this festival to a much higher level.

When is CNY 2025? What are the main CNY 2025 traditions? What are CNY 2025 gift ideas? What to do on CNY 2025? We suppose that now you know the answers to all these questions, and you are more than ready to enjoy the most exciting Chinese New Year 2025 celebration.

In The Little Red Dot, where cultural diversity is celebrated, Chinese New Year 2025 transcends ethnic boundaries. These traditions not only honor Chinese heritage but also contribute to the rich tapestry of the nation’s multicultural identity. As families in The Lion City come together to celebrate CNY 2025, these cherished traditions serve as a powerful reminder of the values that bind them – love, respect, and the shared hope for a prosperous and harmonious future.

Cherish your time spent together! Dream and create precious family memories! Happy Chinese New Year 2025!

Where to go during Chinese New Year 2025 in Singapore? Where to eat during CNY 2025? Where to buy the best decorations for CNY 2025? Stay tuned for BusyKidd’s ultimate guides for your unforgettable CNY 2025!