When is Chinese New Year? We’ll tell you everything about the Year of the Snake.
Wisdom, mystery, and intuition. These are the three attributes of the snake, the animal that will be the protagonist of the Chinese New Year, which will be celebrated from January 29 to February 16.
On the other hand, and following tradition, the element of 2025 is wood, a symbol of creativity, adaptability, and growth. In fact, it is the first time in 60 years that a reptile coincides with this element. This combination, the wood snake, promises a period of deep reflection, personal transformation, and significant progress. It will be an ideal year to explore new ideas and seize opportunities for spiritual and intellectual growth.
Twelve animals and four elements make up the Chinese zodiac and bring the New Year to life. According to ancient stories, these twelve animals occupy the positions in the calendar based on the order of arrival in a race organized by the Jade Emperor: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The elements, on the other hand, are water, metal, wood, and fire.
Legend of this tradition
According to the legend, a monster called Nian would attack villages every winter, the time when the new agricultural cycle began. In response, the villagers decided to decorate their homes with red paper and use fireworks and drums, hoping the loud sounds would scare it away. This continued practice eventually led to the celebration of Chinese New Year.
Currently, Chinese families continue to carry out various rituals to attract abundance—through the rice ritual—and good fortune, by giving red envelopes with money (called hongbao) or thoroughly cleaning their homes to renew the energy of the place. Additionally, family members gather at the home of the eldest member to enjoy a meal together.
Chinese New Year at Casvi International American School
Every year, students at Casvi International American School immerse themselves in Chinese culture and traditions. The school’s Chinese teacher, Mr. Shao Chien, in collaboration with other teachers, organizes various activities during the first week of Chinese New Year to help students understand and, above all, participate in this ancient tradition.
In addition, these activities are adapted to the language level of each group. For example, the Grade 1 class (equivalent to the first year of primary school in the Spanish system) focuses on learning about the legend of the Chinese zodiac and the origins of this celebration, as it is the first year they are taking this mandatory subject. Meanwhile, older students aim to better understand the culture and create more complex projects.
However, what is common to all the grades is the excitement and magic of this week, as well as the big meal held in the school dining hall, just like families do during the Chinese New Year.
On New Year’s Day, students and teachers enjoy a traditional Chinese meal, including a typical fortune cookie. What will fortune have in store for them this Chinese New Year?
Chinese classes from the age of 6
At Casvi Tres Cantos, we promote the learning of Mandarin Chinese from the age of six, as we believe that learning the most spoken language in the world offers both, professional and personal benefits.
In addition, starting from Grade 5 (10 years old), students also learn German, one of the most spoken languages in Europe. In Grade 9 (3rd year of Secondary Education), they can choose which of the two languages they wish to continue studying.
On the other hand, Casvi has around 30 students of Chinese descent. In order to help them integrate better, both in school and in Spain, teacher Mr. Shao has created a support group where, once a week, they talk about their experiences, resolve any doubts, but most importantly, they help each other.
Get to know our school and our educational system
Do you want your children to expand their view of the world while learning languages? Casvi Tres Cantos is the place for you. If you would like to visit our school and learn more about our educational system, contact our Admissions Team.
