Honoring Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake
A message from: Lorenley Báez, Associate Provost for Equity & Belonging
Dear Students,
The New School celebrates and honors the Lunar New Year, which starts on Wednesday, January 29. This year marks the Year of the Snake. The Lunar New Year begins in East Asia on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which happens in late December. While the holiday is commonly called “Chinese New Year” in the West, China is not the only country that observes it. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals and is observed by millions worldwide. In fact, many countries in East Asia, including, but not limited to, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, hold their own New Year celebrations around this time.
As with many other winter solstice celebrations, the symbolic darkness of night is banished by the light of fireworks, lanterns, and candles. Paper lanterns are made and hung by the hundreds in public spaces, bringing good luck to the new year. The celebrations include dances, performances, and parades with music, acrobatics, and food. They all symbolize luck, wealth, and long life.
This year, 2025, we welcome the Year of the Snake, which is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. The animal designations follow a 12-year cycle and are always used in the same sequence. The snake symbolizes intelligence, wisdom, and transformation.
In celebration of this holiday, we invite you to Slither: the Year of the Snake today, Friday, January 24, at 7:00 p.m. It is an opportunity to honor the vast communities globally that celebrate the Lunar New Year and connect with one another.
Lastly, we are in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and I invite you to learn how you can enjoy the Lunar New Year celebrations and support local businesses during this exciting time.
I look forward to celebrating and honoring the Year of the Snake!
