Chinese New Year 2025: Shopping Day, Worship Day, and New Year's Day
Chinese New Year 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. There are three important days: Shopping Day on January 27, Worship Day on January 28, and New Year's Day on January 29, which marks the start of the new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Chinese New Year 2025
“Chinese New Year” marks the beginning of the new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. In 2025, it falls on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Chinese New Year is considered one of the most important days of the year for Chinese people and Thai people of Chinese descent. Communities are filled with happiness, celebration, and family warmth. On Chinese New Year, many people wear red clothing, which is believed to symbolize good fortune and prosperity, and exchange greetings and well wishes for luck in the year ahead. It is also a time when many Chinese people take time off work to rest and celebrate with their families.
History of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is associated with many legends and beliefs, especially the story of the Nü monster (年), one of the festival’s best-known legends. According to the story, Nü was a dragon-like monster with a destructive nature that would appear at the end of the year to damage crops and threaten villagers. To protect themselves, people used loud noises and the color red, such as setting off firecrackers and decorating their homes in red. These practices were believed to drive the monster away from the village and protect families from danger, eventually becoming traditions that continue to the present day.
Another important Chinese New Year belief is asking for prosperity and good fortune in the new year. Paying respect to ancestors and deities is an important ritual that is believed to bring happiness, wealth, and good luck to the family. Red envelopes, or ang pao, are also given as symbols of blessings and good fortune, especially to children or unmarried family members.
Important Chinese New Year Days: Shopping, Worship, and New Year's Day
Chinese New Year is considered a long holiday period for many Chinese people. In mainland China, people may have around eight days off, from Shopping Day through the period after New Year's Day, allowing time for celebrations and travel to reunite with family. For Thai people of Chinese descent, the festival is commonly observed over three key days: Shopping Day, Worship Day, and New Year's Day.
| Important Day | Date | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping Day | January 27, 2025 | Buy food, fruit, and offerings in preparation for the ceremonies |
| Worship Day | January 28, 2025 | Pay respect to deities and ancestors |
| New Year's Day | January 29, 2025 | Celebrate the new year, visit relatives, and receive blessings from elders |
Shopping Day: January 27, 2025
This year, Shopping Day falls on January 27, 2025. Families go out to buy items for worship ceremonies and celebrations, such as food, fruit, sweets, and various offerings. It is a lively day of preparation.
Worship Day: January 28, 2025
This year, Worship Day falls on January 28, 2025, which is considered the final day of the year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Families hold ceremonies to pay respect to ancestors and deities, express gratitude, and ask for prosperity. The main ceremonies are commonly divided by time as follows:
- Morning (6:00–7:00 a.m.) A ceremony is held to pay respect to deities and sacred figures in the home, such as household guardian spirits, Buddha images, and spirit houses, to ask for happiness and good fortune for the family. Offerings may include Sa Sae (pork, duck, and chicken) or Ngo Sae (with crab and fish added), along with liquor, tea, sweets, fruit, and joss paper.
- Late Morning (10:00–11:00 a.m.) A ceremony is held to honor deceased ancestors, express gratitude, and ask for peace and happiness for the family. Offerings may include Sa Sae or Ngo Sae, savory and sweet dishes that the ancestors enjoyed, as well as joss paper, paper clothing, and kong tek paper money.
- Late Night (11:01 p.m.–2:59 a.m.) A ceremony is held to worship Cai Shen, the God of Wealth, to ask for prosperity and financial good fortune. Offerings include 5 cups of tea, 5 bowls of sweet glutinous rice balls, 5 kinds of auspicious fruit, 5 vegetarian dishes, assorted Chinese sweets, and joss paper. It is also recommended to place the wallet currently in use with the offerings as a symbol of attracting good fortune.
Tips! Read more here >> Chinese New Year Offerings: Essential Items and How to Arrange the Table
New Year's Day: January 29, 2025
This year, New Year's Day falls on January 29, 2025. Families wear bright-colored clothing and meet relatives and friends to exchange New Year greetings. Some people may also travel or join celebrations in different places.
Summary Chinese New Year 2025: Summary of Shopping Day, Worship Day, and New Year's Day
Chinese New Year 2025 falls on January 29, the first day of the new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival is significant in both culture and belief, including the legend of the destructive Nü monster that appeared at the end of the year. This gave rise to traditions such as using the color red and loud sounds, including red decorations and firecrackers, to drive the monster away. Chinese New Year has three important days: Shopping Day for preparing offerings, Worship Day for paying respect to deities and ancestors, and New Year's Day for family gatherings and celebrations.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese New Year
Q: Why does Chinese New Year fall on a different date each year?
A: Chinese New Year is calculated according to the Chinese lunar calendar, which is based on both lunar cycles and the solar year. As a result, it does not fall on the same date in the Gregorian calendar every year.
Q: Is Chinese New Year a public holiday in Thailand?
A: It is not automatically a public holiday. Private-sector employees should refer to the traditional holidays announced by their employer each year. The law requires employers to provide at least 13 traditional holidays per year, including National Labour Day.
Q: If a company remains open during Chinese New Year, how should the holiday be handled?
A: First, check whether Chinese New Year has been designated as one of the company’s traditional holidays. If it has been officially announced as a traditional holiday, work performed on that day should be handled according to the applicable employee rights and compensation rules under labor law.
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