Several countries mark their new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar involving movement of the Sun and Moon.

The Lunar New Year usually starts sometime between late January and mid-February. This year, the festivities begin on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake. In mainland China, official celebrations last for seven days as a public holiday.

Lunar New Year celebrations begin Wednesday. Here's everything to know about the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake.

In honor of the Year of the Snake, let’s appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles

Lunar New Year starts this week, marking an important holiday in China and other Asian communities. Lunar New Year celebrations can last up to 15 days, starting on the new moon between late January and mid-February. The exact date varies each year based on the lunar calendar.

Here's when the Chinese New Year starts in 2025, how long it lasts, where the Lunar New Year is celebrated and your guide to the Year of the Snake.

In many Asian cultures, the Lunar New Year is a celebration marking the arrival of spring and the start of a new year on the lunisolar calendar