Google celebrates Lunar New Year 2025 with special doodle honoring the ‘Year of the Snake’

Lunar New Year, one of the most significant cultural celebrations across Asia and the world, is set to commence on January 29, 2025, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake. The festival, deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions, is celebrated by millions of people globally, including those from Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and other Asian communities.As part of the festivities, Google has unveiled a special Doodle to commemorate the occasion, embracing the cultural symbolism of the Snake and highlighting the widespread celebrations associated with the Lunar New Year. The Google Doodle, visible in multiple countries, aims to pay homage to the festival’s rich heritage and the customs observed by millions. According to Google, the first new moon of the lunar calendar has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years in various Asian countries. The Doodle artwork honours the Year of the Snake, symbolising a period of growth, creativity, and transformation!

Google has a long-standing tradition of creating Doodles that reflect important global events, and the Lunar New Year is no exception. This year’s design is centered around the Year of the Snake, which holds deep significance in Chinese astrology. The illustration features a stylized serpent, creatively woven into the word ‘Google,’ symbolising wisdom, transformation, and resilience—qualities associated with the Snake in the zodiac.
The Doodle is not limited to China but has been customized for different regions celebrating Lunar New Year, including South Korea, Vietnam, and parts of the United States and Europe with significant Asian diaspora populations. Each version of the Doodle maintains the essence of the festival while incorporating localized elements to resonate with specific cultural interpretations of the Lunar New Year.

This year, Google’s Lunar New Year Doodle is more than just a static illustration—it offers an interactive Snake game that blends tradition with modern digital entertainment. Users who click on the Doodle are redirected to a playable version of Google’s redesigned Snake game, which features:

The game serves as an entertaining way for users to engage with the Lunar New Year while paying homage to a classic arcade experience that many players grew up with.

In the Chinese zodiac cycle, the Snake is the sixth animal and is often linked to intelligence, intuition, and strategic thinking. Those born in Snake years—such as 2013, 2001, 1989, and 1977—are believed to possess qualities of wisdom and determination. The Year of the Snake is often associated with transformation and renewal, making 2025 a year of calculated progress and careful decision-making.
Each Lunar New Year marks a time for reflection, setting intentions, and welcoming prosperity, and 2025 is expected to be a year that encourages strategic growth and adaptability. The symbolism of the Snake extends beyond China, with many Asian cultures recognizing its influence in their respective traditions and folklore.

Lunar New Year celebrations vary across different cultures but share common themes of family reunions, feasting, and traditional ceremonies. Some key elements of the celebrations include:

One of the most cherished aspects of Lunar New Year is the coming together of families. Many people travel great distances to reunite with loved ones for a celebratory meal on New Year’s Eve. Traditional dishes, often rich in symbolism, are prepared, such as dumplings (representing wealth), fish (symbolizing abundance), and longevity noodles (for good health and long life).

A hallmark of Lunar New Year is the exchange of red envelopes, known as ‘hongbao’ in China and ‘li xi’ in Vietnam, containing money. These are traditionally given by elders to younger family members as a gesture of goodwill and blessings for prosperity in the coming year.

Fireworks and dragon or lion dances are an integral part of Lunar New Year celebrations, aimed at warding off evil spirits and bringing good fortune. These vibrant performances are a spectacle in major cities across the world, including Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, and London.

Many customs and superstitions are observed during this time, such as avoiding negative words, not sweeping the house (to avoid sweeping away good luck), and wearing new clothes to signify a fresh start. The color red, associated with good fortune and joy, dominates decorations, clothing, and celebratory items.

In addition to the global Lunar New Year Doodle, Google has created a unique version for South Korea, where the festival is known as ‘Seollal.’ Seollal celebrations emphasise ancestral rites, traditional games, and the consumption of special foods like ‘tteokguk’ (rice cake soup), which symbolizes growth and prosperity. Google's tailored Doodle for South Korea incorporates elements of these customs, further emphasizing the cultural diversity of the Lunar New Year.

Google has consistently recognized Lunar New Year through its Doodles, each year featuring a design that aligns with the corresponding zodiac animal. Previous iterations have included:

These artistic tributes not only celebrate the zodiac animals but also educate global audiences about the cultural and historical significance of the festival.
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