Chinese New Year marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, and celebrations last for 15 days. The first DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR in 2025 falls on January 29th and marks the start of the Year of the Snake. This is the longest and most important of all Chinese festivals.
Auspicious activities to carry out during this time of the year are:
- Making offerings to household deities.
- Wearing new clothes, particularly in red.
- Hosting a large banquet for family and friends.
- Taking part in lion and dragon dances, as well as festive parades featuring beating gongs and clashing cymbals.

Many children receive “lucky money” in red envelopes and household doors are open to let good luck enter on Chinese New Year Day. It is believed that whatever happens during Chinese New Year, and whatever mood you set, will have an impact on how things go for you for the rest of the year. It is thus important to be happy and cheerful during these 15 days, to hold your temper and not get angry unnecessarily. Surround yourself with people who put you in a good mood.
It is also important to choose good dates for certain activities. For good business luck for the coming year, it is vital to pick a good day to “re-open” the office after the Chinese New Year break. When you re-open your office or business premises, it is good to make some noise with a lion dance. If you can, it is also auspicious to have the lions roll in buckets full of mandarin oranges, Chinese coins and ingots into your office – as this symbolizes the rolling in of gold, wealth and prosperity, and bodes well for your luck in the coming year.
PICK THE RIGHT DAY TO RE-START WORK
Here’s a list of the best days to re-start work. If you cannot re-start on one of these dates, then pick an average day. Try to avoid returning to work on a day that conflicts your animal sign.
BEST DAY TO START WORK
2nd DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – THURSDAY
30th January 2025 | Conflict Animal: Snake
4th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – SATURDAY
1st February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Sheep
6th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – MONDAY
3rd February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Rooster
7th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – TUESDAY
4th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Dog
13th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – MONDAY
10th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Dragon
15th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – WEDNESDAY
12th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Horse
AVERAGE DAYS TO START WORK
1st DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – WEDNESDAY
29th January 2025 | Conflict Animal: Dragon
3rd DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – FRIDAY
31st January 2025 | Conflict Animal: Horse
5th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – SUNDAY
2nd February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Monkey
8th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – WEDNESDAY
5th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Boar
10th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – FRIDAY
7th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Ox
11th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – SATURDAY
8th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Tiger
12th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – SUNDAY
9th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Horse
14th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – TUESDAY
11th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Monkey
If you have travel plans during the 15 days of Chinese New Year, whether for holiday or for work, be sure to pick a good date. Again, this will have a bearing on your luck for the rest of the year. However, avoid travelling during days that “conflict” with your animal sign.
LUCKY DAYS FOR TRAVEL
1st DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – WEDNESDAY
29th January 2025 | Conflict Animal: Dragon
2nd DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – THURSDAY
30th January 2025 | Conflict Animal: Snake
3rd DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – FRIDAY
31st January 2025 | Conflict Animal: Horse
4th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – SATURDAY
1st February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Sheep
5th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – SUNDAY
2nd February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Monkey
6th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – MONDAY
3rd February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Rooster
7th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – TUESDAY
4th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Dog
14th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – TUESDAY
11th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Snake
15th DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR – WEDNESDAY
12th February 2025 | Conflict Animal: Horse