Everything You Need to Know About Chinese New Year in the UK
Table of Contents
Chinese/Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (Chūnjié), is the most important festival in Chinese culture, marking the start of the lunar calendar year. It is a time of renewal, family reunions, and blessings for prosperity, health, and happiness.
Countries, such as Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and others with large Chinese populations, hold public celebrations with similar themes.
Each country blends traditional Chinese customs with their own local practices, making Lunar New Year a truly global celebration.
What Chinese Year is 2025?
Each year in the Chinese calendar is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, begins on January 29th, 2025, a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and transformation. People born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be intelligent, resourceful, and charming.
Origin of Chinese New Year
The origins of Chinese New Year trace back to ancient farming societies in China. The festival was initially celebrated to honour deities and ancestors while marking the start of the agricultural season. It symbolised the end of winter and the preparation for spring planting.
One popular legend associated with Chinese New Year is the story of Nian, a mythical beast believed to frighten villages. To avoid Nian, villagers discovered that loud noises, red decorations, and firecrackers could scare the creature away.
Over time, these practices evolved into modern celebrations, including wearing red clothing, giving red envelopes, performing lion and dragon dances, honouring ancestors, and enjoying symbolic dishes.
How is Chinese New Year Celebrated Traditionally?
Chinese New Year is steeped in traditions that date back thousands of years, focusing on family reunions, gratitude, and preparations for a prosperous year ahead.
Before the New Year, families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune. Red is the primary colour of the festival, and homes are decorated with red lanterns, paper cuttings, and fai chun (chūnlián), red banners with poetic blessings.
Families pay respects to ancestors and deities with offerings to express gratitude and seek blessings for the coming year.
On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a lavish feast featuring symbolic dishes such as dumplings (representing wealth), fish (symbolising abundance), and rice cakes (representing progress).
People stay awake past midnight to welcome the New Year. Once the New Year arrives, firecrackers are set off to scare away evil spirits and mark the start of the festivities.
New Year’s Day
On New Year’s Day, people wear bright, new clothing—often in red—to symbolise a fresh start. Families visit relatives and friends also known as Bàinián or Bai Nian to exchange blessings and good wishes. Elders give red envelopes (hóngbāo or laisee) filled with money to younger family members.
The celebrations don’t stop there. From Day 2 to Day 15 , each day features a special theme to honour families, business partners, ancestors, and mythical gods.
On Day 15, the festivities culminate with the Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival, where people light lanterns and enjoy sweet rice balls (tāngyuán).
In some traditions, it’s also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, when individuals seek romantic connections by participating in riddle games hung on lanterns.
How Can Students in the UK Take Part in Chinese New Year 2025?
Chinese New Year offers a wonderful opportunity for all students, whether of Chinese descent or not, to immerse themselves in the vibrant traditions and rich cultural heritage of China. Here are some engaging and meaningful ways to take part:
Attend Events and Celebrations:
Many cities across the UK host vibrant Lunar New Year celebrations, featuring public parades with traditional music, colourful costumes, lion and dragon dances, and eye-dotting ceremonies.
Visitors can explore festive stalls, try their hand at fai chun writing, enjoy martial arts demonstrations, participate in paper lantern-making workshops, Chinese scroll painting and calligraphy. And, of course, don’t miss the chance to try authentic Chinese cuisine at the food stalls.
Most events will take place in major Chinatowns across the UK to celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 over the weekend of 1st and 2nd February (Saturday and Sunday).
Highlights include entertainment in Leicester Square and on-stage performances in Trafalgar Square in London, dragon parade in Manchester city centre, all in one place cultural activities in Hippodrome Square in Birmingham, ‘Bring the Fire’ performance in Liverpool Chinatown.
Below are useful links where you can find festival details to celebrate Chinese New Year in the UK.
Chinese New Year in Manchester
Chinese New Year in Birmingham
If the big city celebrations aren’t your cup of tea, be sure to check out your local Chinese communities.
Many of them organise similar activities that people of all ages can enjoy and participate in!
Alternatively, many Chinese restaurants offer traditional banquets featuring lion or dragon dance performances on-site, allowing you to soak in the festive atmosphere in a cosy and comfortable setting.
Try Traditional Foods
You can celebrate Chinese New Year in the UK by visiting authentic Chinese restaurants or attending food festivals during the celebrations.
Must-try dishes include dumplings (jiaozi), symbolising wealth and prosperity; noodles, representing longevity; and sweet rice balls (tangyuan), a dessert that signifies family unity.
You can also find these ingredients at Chinese markets and enjoy the experience of making them at home!
Join University Cultural Events
Many universities have Chinese student societies that host a range of events to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
These often include hands-on activities like dumpling-making workshops, where you can learn to prepare this symbolic dish, and calligraphy sessions, where you can try your hand at the elegant art of writing traditional Chinese characters.
Such activities provide a deeper appreciation of the festival’s cultural significance, highlighting the rich history and captivating traditions of Chinese New Year.
Whether through food, festivities, or learning, everyone has countless ways to celebrate and enjoy Chinese New Year while honouring its cultural significance.
If you are on the hunt for student accommodation, you are in the right place. Visit our Prestige Student Living website and discover a range of luxury student properties across the UK that will fit all your needs!
Read Next: Best Graduation Gifts for Him: From Practical to Personalised
