Lunar New Year 2025: A Guide to the Year of the Snake
The Lunar New Year begins on January 29, 2025, marking the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The Snake is known for wisdom, transformation, and intuition—making this a year to embrace new beginnings and focus on health, balance, and nourishment. The Lunar New Year has always been a special holiday for me. Growing up in Southeast Asia, I was immersed in the traditions passed down from my family—my father was three-quarters Chinese, and my mother was half Chinese. Our celebrations were filled with symbolic customs, especially through food.
At FoodTrients®, we love celebrating the Lunar New Year with foods that bring good fortune, longevity, and vitality. Here’s how you can welcome the Year of the Snake with nutritious and delicious traditions:
Dumplings for Prosperity – These symbolize wealth and abundance. Try making whole wheat or vegetable-filled dumplings for a nutritious twist.
Citrus Fruits for Luck – Oranges, tangerines, and kumquats are thought to bring prosperity. Enjoy them fresh or in a bright citrus salad.
FoodTrients Citrus Salad recipes:
Longevity Noodles – Long noodles represent a long and healthy life. Toss them with antioxidant-rich veggies and lean protein for a balanced dish.
Try my FoodTrients recipe for Stir-Fried Korean Glass Noodles or Okinawan Sweet & Spicy Soba Rainbow Salad
Fish for Abundance – In Chinese tradition, eating fish brings prosperity.
Tilapia with Turmeric. Turmeric is known the world over for its amazing anti-inflammatory benefits. Get the recipe.
Moringa & Mushrooms for Well-being – These superfoods align with the Snake’s themes of wisdom and renewal. Moringa is packed with nutrients, while mushrooms support immunity and longevity.
Enjoy two delicious recipes featuring these powerful ingredients:
Moringa Vegetable Soup
Mushroom Medley
One of my favorite traditions during Chinese New Year is the giving of gifts. Wrapping money in red packets symbolizes good luck and happiness for the recipient. I share this tradition with my staff by gifting them a token amount of money in red envelopes decorated with gold, wishing them well for the year ahead. Many people keep these envelopes unopened for the entire year, as they believe the red packet itself is just as lucky as the money inside.
To further spread wishes of good fortune, I follow the custom of displaying and gifting oranges and tangerines—organically grown in my citrus groves near San Diego. This time of year, the fruits are at their peak ripeness, and I love sharing them with friends, family, and colleagues. In Chinese, the words for “gold” and “orange” sound alike, while “tangerine” is similar to the word for “luck.” I always keep the leaves attached, as they symbolize longevity. Another popular fruit for gifting is pomelo, a large citrus native to Southeast Asia. Sweeter and larger than grapefruit, its Cantonese name sounds like the words for “prosperity” and “status.”
The beauty of Chinese New Year lies in the meaningful symbolism behind every shared dish, turning each bite into a wish for health, happiness, and success.
As we slither into 2025, let’s nourish our bodies and minds with foods that support health, energy, and resilience. Wishing you happiness, prosperity, and great health in the Year of the Snake! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
