Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a vibrant and joyous celebration observed by Chinese communities worldwide. Each year is associated with one of the twelve zodiac animals, and in 2025, we will bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon and welcome the captivating Year of the Snake. The Hampshire Chinese Association, UK Shaolin, Southampton City Council, and various local communities are coming together to mark this auspicious occasion with a series of colourful events, cultural performances, and traditional customs.

Every year, hundreds of people gather in Southampton’s Guildhall Square to enjoy a vibrant parade, free traditional Chinese Lion Dance performances, family-friendly activities, and to wish each other a Happy New Year—“Xin Nian Kuai Le” (Mandarin) or “Sun Nin Faai Lok” (Cantonese).

Join us as we immerse ourselves in the lively and captivating festivities that will fill Southampton City during Chinese New Year 2025!

Follow us on all social media platforms for exciting updates on the program. Southampton CNY 2025 is brought to you by UK Shaolin and Hampshire Chinese Association, in partnership with Southampton City Council and Mayflower Studios (MAST).

春节，又称为农历新年，是全球华人庆祝的一个充满活力和喜庆的节日。每一年都有一个对应的生肖动物，2025年我们将告别龙年，迎来迷人的蛇年。汉普郡华人协会、英国少林、南安普顿市政府以及众多当地社区携手合作，共同庆祝这一吉祥的时刻，带来一系列丰富多彩的活动、文化表演和传统习俗。

每年，成百上千的人们聚集在南安普顿市的市政厅广场，欣赏色彩斑斓的游行、免费的传统中国舞狮表演和适合全家的活动，并互致新年祝福——“新年快乐”（普通话）或“新春发财”（粤语）。

加入我们，共同感受2025年春节期间，充满活力和魅力的南安普顿庆祝活动！

关注我们的社交媒体平台，获取更多精彩活动更新。南安普顿2025春节庆典由英国少林和汉普郡华人协会主办，南安普顿市政府和梅花剧院（MAST）合作支持.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional celebration in Chinese culture, marking the beginning of a new lunar year. In 2025, Chinese New Year will fall on January 29, welcoming the Year of the Snake. Each year in the Chinese zodiac is associated with one of the twelve animals, and the Snake is known for its wisdom, charm, and transformative energy.

The Year of the Snake invites reflection, self-growth, and personal transformation, making it a time for new beginnings and strategic planning. The Snake is also a symbol of grace and elegance, often linked to qualities such as intuition, insight, and a calm, determined spirit. This year will be a time to embrace changes and take calculated risks.

Chinese New Year celebrations last for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival, with events that include family gatherings, feasts, and various cultural customs such as the giving of red envelopes, lion dances, fireworks, and prayers for prosperity and good fortune in the year ahead.

Throughout the world, communities will come together to honour their heritage and usher in a year filled with hope, joy, and positive change. Whether through large public festivals or intimate family reunions, Chinese New Year is a time for unity, renewal, and celebration of the richness of Chinese culture.

春节，又称农历新年，是中国文化中最重要的传统节日，标志着新一年的开始。2025年的春节将于1月29日开始，迎来蛇年。中国的生肖与十二种动物相对应，蛇年象征着智慧、魅力和变革的力量。

蛇年鼓励反思、自我成长和个人转变，是一个适合开始新事物和进行战略规划的时刻。蛇通常代表优雅、直觉、洞察力和冷静果断的精神。今年将是一个迎接变化并采取深思熟虑的风险的时期。

春节的庆祝活动持续15天，最后一天是元宵节。庆祝活动包括家庭团聚、盛宴以及各种传统习俗，如给红包、舞狮、烟花和祈求来年繁荣和好运。

世界各地的华人将齐聚一堂，纪念传统并迎接充满希望、喜悦和积极变化的一年。无论是大型公众庆祝活动还是家庭聚会，春节都是团结、焕新和庆祝中国文化丰富多彩的时刻。

Chinese New Year is steeped in a myriad of customs and rituals that are believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Individuals and families embrace these traditions by cleaning their homes to sweep away bad luck, decorating their doorways with red couplets and paper cutouts symbolising good fortune, and exchanging red envelopes known as “hongbao” filled with money as a gesture of prosperity. Additionally, families gather for sumptuous reunion dinners, where traditional dishes like dumplings, fish, and longevity noodles are served, signifying luck, abundance, and long life.

中国新年充满了无数的习俗和仪式，人们相信这些习俗和仪式可以带来好运并驱除邪灵。 个人和家庭都遵循这些传统，打扫房屋以扫除厄运，用象征好运的红色对联和剪纸装饰门口，并交换装满钱的红包以示繁荣。 此外，家人欢聚一堂，享用丰盛的团圆饭，包括饺子、鱼和长寿面等传统菜肴，象征着幸运、富足和长寿.

The Chinese Dragon Dance is a traditional performance that is an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations and other festive occasions. The dance involves a team of performers who manipulate a large, colourful dragon puppet, typically made of silk and bamboo, to mimic the movements of a dragon. The dragon is held up on poles, and the performers move in synchrony, making the dragon appear to “fly” or “dance” through the air in fluid, graceful motions. The dragon’s head, often the most elaborately decorated part, is controlled by one or two dancers, while the rest of the dragon’s body is carried by other performers.

In Chinese culture, the dragon symbolises strength, power, and good luck. It is believed to bring prosperity, happiness, and good fortune to the community. The dance is performed to drive away evil spirits and bad luck, ensuring a fresh and prosperous start for the new year. The dragon’s movements are often accompanied by loud drums, cymbals, and firecrackers, all of which are believed to ward off negative energy and amplify the auspiciousness of the performance.

The dragon dance is also a display of skill and teamwork, requiring precision and coordination from all the performers. Its vibrant colours and dynamic movements bring joy and excitement to the celebration, while honouring Chinese traditions and cultural heritage.

This year, the UK Shaolin CNY team will kick off the Chinese New Year celebrations with a dynamic Dragon Dance at Southampton Guildhall Square. Through intricate twists and turns, the dragon will symbolise power, strength, and prosperity, embodying the hope for a successful year ahead. The dragon’s fluid movements, accompanied by traditional drums and cymbals, will represent resilience and adaptability, while bringing blessings of good fortune and harmony to the community. This vibrant performance will showcase the dancers’ skill and the rich cultural significance of the dragon, marking the start of an exciting Year of the Snake celebration.

中国舞龙是一种传统的表演，是春节庆祝活动及其他节日的重要组成部分。舞龙表演通常由一支团队组成，演员们操控一条大型的色彩斑斓的龙形道具，通常由丝绸和竹子制成，以模仿龙的动作。龙身由杆支撑，表演者协调一致地移动，使龙看起来像是在空中“飞舞”或“舞动”，动作流畅优雅。龙头通常是最精美的部分，由一到两名演员操控，其余部分的龙身由其他演员共同抬起。

在中国文化中，龙象征着力量、权威和好运。人们相信，舞龙可以带来繁荣、幸福和好运。舞龙表演的目的是驱赶邪灵和坏运气，确保新的一年有一个崭新和繁荣的开始。龙的动作常常伴随着响亮的鼓声、钹声和鞭炮声，这些都被认为能驱除负能量，并增强表演的吉祥寓意。

舞龙表演也是一场技能和团队合作的展示，要求表演者之间有精确的协调与配合。龙的鲜艳色彩和充满活力的动作为庆祝活动增添了喜悦和兴奋，同时也弘扬了中国的传统和文化遗产。

今年，英国少林春节团队将在南安普顿市政厅广场拉开春节庆祝活动的序幕，带来一场充满活力的舞龙表演。通过复杂的转折和舞动，龙将象征着力量、强大和繁荣，体现着对新的一年充满希望和成功的期许。龙的流畅动作将与传统的鼓声和钹声相伴，代表着韧性和适应力，同时为社区带来好运和和谐。此次精彩的表演将展示演员们的技艺和龙文化的深厚内涵，标志着蛇年庆祝活动的精彩开始。