Embracing the Year of the Snake - or is the snake embracing you?

A snake-shaped installation welcoming the Year of the Snake. Credit: Chen Chuhong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Over one billion people or one-fifth of the world's population celebrate Lunar New Year in different ways. The Lunar New Year welcomes the Year of the Snake, an auspicious and mysterious animal.

The Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is celebrated across the world by about one billion people.
In the Philippines, as stated in Malacañang Proclamation No. 727, January 29, 2025, is declared a special non-working holiday throughout the country in observance of Chinese New Year.
According to the 2021 Census, around 1.8 million people in Australia celebrated Lunar New Year.

'We want our child to know her roots': Why this Filipino Chinese couple continue Lunar New Year traditions

Riane says her mum taught her to love with 'ferocity'. Lunar New Year is hard without her

'Tikoy': A Lunar New Year staple in many Filipino-Chinese homes