Celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Snake with us

The Lunar calendar is based on the cycle of the Moon and begins with the second new moon after the winter solstice. The date of Chinese New Year celebrations changes every year, falling between January 21 and February 20. It's also referred to as the Spring Festival (chun-jie). 

In China, the celebrations are closely tied to traveling. Millions of people head out to visit their hometowns and villages to reunite with their families.

The celebrations last a total of 15 days, with each day having its own special custom. The first day is dedicated to family gatherings over a festive dinner. Religious rituals to honor ancestors are also part of the tradition. Within the family, children in particular receive red envelopes with money, called hongbao.

 The festivities culminate in the Lantern Festival. During the festival, there are parades where lanterns are carried as symbols of lighting the way into the new year. These lanterns are often decorated with calligraphic inscriptions or drawings. The festival is also associated with dragon and lion dances, which are meant to ward off evil spirits.

The Origin of the Names of Individual Years
There’s a legend tied to why certain animals are part of the Chinese zodiac. It’s connected to one of the most important Chinese gods, the Jade Emperor. He is said to have created the calendar and invited all the animals to take part in a race.

The first twelve animals to cross the finish line were rewarded: a year was named after each of them. The main feature of the racecourse was a river that the animals had to cross.

The twelve-year zodiac cycle is combined with five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Together, they create a sixty-year cycle. This means that a year of the wooden snake like this one last occurred in 1965.


Impact on Goods Deliveries
The celebration of the Chinese New Year lasts around 20 days with preparations and is taken very seriously. Many shops, as well as larger businesses, operate on reduced hours. This also impacts the shipment of goods like photovoltaic panels and other components, whose deliveries from China might be delayed by several weeks.

However, you don’t need to worry. Our EU warehouse has sufficient stock to cover this period, and all products are ready for immediate shipment.