New Year celebrations are a fixture of many different cultural calendars. But not all of them are held on January 1.
While there are plenty of common themes in new year celebrations, there is a huge amount of diversity in when, why and how the start of a new year is marked around the world. Brands that build this diversity into their editorial and content calendars will benefit from more timely messaging and meaningful connections with their global audience.
So let’s take a look at when different new year celebrations will fall in 2025:
29 January: Chinese New Year
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, meaning it is based on the phases of the moon and the Earth’s orbit around the sun. The start of the Chinese new year falls on the first day of the first lunar month, when there is a new moon. It is also known as the Spring Festival.
Chinese new year celebrations focus on removing the bad and the old and ushering in the new and the good. For example, traditional lion and dragon dances are believed to help expel evil spirits and bring good luck for the year to come. In the days leading up to the new year, people will clean their houses, clearing out old items that are no longer needed. Other activities include fireworks, visiting family, burning incense in honour of ancestors and presenting gifts of money in red envelopes.
20 March: Nowruz – Persian New Year
Nowruz coincides with the Vernal Equinox or the astronomical first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. It has its roots in the Zoroastrian belief in the return of the Spirit of Noon or Rapithwina, after being driven underground by the Spirit of Winter.
Traditional rituals such as jumping over fires or streams and cleaning homes symbolise the purging of bad experiences or memories from the previous year. The most significant part of the celebrations however is the preparation of the Haft-Seen table. This is a family activity which involves the laying out of 7 specific items, all beginning with the letter ‘S’.
- Sirkeh (vinegar) to represent patience
- Sikkeh (coins) to represent wealth and prosperity
- Seer (garlic) to represent good health
- Seeb (apples) to represent natural beauty
- Sabzeh (wheat) to represent renewal
- Samanu (sweet pudding) to represent fertility
- Sumac berries to represent sunrise and the start of a new day
13-15 April: Songkran – Thai New Year
Songkran is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘passage of the sun’ and Songkran celebrations coincide with the movement of the sun into the Aries constellation, the first sign of the Zodiac.
This three day festival is also known as a water festival. Water plays a big part in Thai new year celebrations, symbolically washing away the previous year and providing blessings for the year to come.
On the first day of celebrations, families often visit Buddhist temples and sprinkle water over statues of the Buddha, symbolising purification and good fortune for the year ahead. Younger people also pour water over the hands of older relatives as a mark of respect and to ask for their blessings. The celebrations continue, often with street parties, parades, music and a fun water fight.
20 June: Matariki – Māori New Year
The Māori new year is heralded by the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster in the early morning sky during mid-winter. The Matariki cluster contains hundreds of stars but only 9 are visible to the naked eye. Those 9 stars hold special significance in Māori culture and were closely associated with planting, harvesting and hunting. Traditionally, the brighter and clearer the stars appeared, the more abundant the season ahead would be.
Traditional festivities to mark the passing of one year and the start of another include gathering with friends and family to honour ancestors, share food, sing, and tell stories.
27 June: Islamic New Year
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, based on the moon’s orbit of the Earth. The first month of the Islamic year or Muharram, begins with the first sighting of the first new crescent moon in the lunar calendar.
In observance of Muharram, Muslims around the world reflect on their faith, pray and spend time with their family.
11 September: Enkutatash – Ethiopian New Year
The celebration of Enkutatash (meaning ‘gift of jewels’) has its origins in the time of the Queen of Sheba. The story goes that on her return from her visit to King Solomon, the Queen was welcomed back by her people with a gift of precious jewels. Her return coincided with the end of the rainy season and the blooming of beautiful, yellow adey ababa flowers.
Today, celebrations include the lighting of bonfires, the sharing of traditional meals of chicken stew and injera with family and the performing of traditional songs.
22 – 24 September: Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year
‘Rosh Hashanah’ means ‘head of the year’ and is a celebration of the creation of the world. In the Jewish faith, it is a holy day on which people reflect on their relationship with God and ask for forgiveness.
One of the most important traditions of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of a horn called a Shofar, one of the world’s oldest known wind instruments. The sound of the Shofar marks the start of a 10 day period called Days of Awe, leading up to Yom Kippur, another important Jewish festival.
Food is also an important part of Rosh Hashanah celebrations. Slices of apple dipped in honey and honey cake are eaten to symbolise a sweet new year ahead. People also bake and eat Challah – a bread baked in a round shape symbolising the circle of life and the end of the year. Pomegranates also feature, representing the commandments that a Jewish person should follow.
20 October: Diwali – Festival of Lights
The theme of Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, is the victory of good over evil. It is the biggest festival in the Hindu lunar calendar and is celebrated over 5 days.
- On the first day, people clean their homes and purchase gold items to help bring good fortune.
- On the second day, homes are decorated with clay lamps symbolising the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness and colored sand, arranged in special patterns called rangoli.
- The third day is the main day of celebrations where families gather together to pray to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, enjoy feasts and let off fireworks.
- The fourth day is the first day of the new year and is marked by visits to friends and family.
- Traditionally on day 5, brothers visit their married sisters to enjoy a meal together.
Each of the new year celebrations described above hold special significance for those that observe them. Brands that are mindful of important cultural moments like these will build stronger connections with their customers around the world. A fully localised content strategy is key to building a successful, trusted international brand and business.
Whether you need scaled support to execute on your strategy or are just getting started, we can help. Get in touch today to learn more about CultureSmith’s international content services.
New Year celebrations are a fixture of many different cultural calendars. But not all of them are held on January 1.
While there are plenty of common themes in new year celebrations, there is a huge amount of diversity in when, why and how the start of a new year is marked around the world. Brands that build this diversity into their editorial and content calendars will benefit from more timely messaging and meaningful connections with their global audience.
So let’s take a look at when different new year celebrations will fall in 2025:
29 January: Chinese New Year
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, meaning it is based on the phases of the moon and the Earth’s orbit around the sun. The start of the Chinese new year falls on the first day of the first lunar month, when there is a new moon. It is also known as the Spring Festival.
Chinese new year celebrations focus on removing the bad and the old and ushering in the new and the good. For example, traditional lion and dragon dances are believed to help expel evil spirits and bring good luck for the year to come. In the days leading up to the new year, people will clean their houses, clearing out old items that are no longer needed. Other activities include fireworks, visiting family, burning incense in honour of ancestors and presenting gifts of money in red envelopes.
20 March: Nowruz – Persian New Year
Nowruz coincides with the Vernal Equinox or the astronomical first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. It has its roots in the Zoroastrian belief in the return of the Spirit of Noon or Rapithwina, after being driven underground by the Spirit of Winter.
Traditional rituals such as jumping over fires or streams and cleaning homes symbolise the purging of bad experiences or memories from the previous year. The most significant part of the celebrations however is the preparation of the Haft-Seen table. This is a family activity which involves the laying out of 7 specific items, all beginning with the letter ‘S’.
- Sirkeh (vinegar) to represent patience
- Sikkeh (coins) to represent wealth and prosperity
- Seer (garlic) to represent good health
- Seeb (apples) to represent natural beauty
- Sabzeh (wheat) to represent renewal
- Samanu (sweet pudding) to represent fertility
- Sumac berries to represent sunrise and the start of a new day
13-15 April: Songkran – Thai New Year
Songkran is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘passage of the sun’ and Songkran celebrations coincide with the movement of the sun into the Aries constellation, the first sign of the Zodiac.
This three day festival is also known as a water festival. Water plays a big part in Thai new year celebrations, symbolically washing away the previous year and providing blessings for the year to come.
On the first day of celebrations, families often visit Buddhist temples and sprinkle water over statues of the Buddha, symbolising purification and good fortune for the year ahead. Younger people also pour water over the hands of older relatives as a mark of respect and to ask for their blessings. The celebrations continue, often with street parties, parades, music and a fun water fight.
20 June: Matariki – Māori New Year
The Māori new year is heralded by the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster in the early morning sky during mid-winter. The Matariki cluster contains hundreds of stars but only 9 are visible to the naked eye. Those 9 stars hold special significance in Māori culture and were closely associated with planting, harvesting and hunting. Traditionally, the brighter and clearer the stars appeared, the more abundant the season ahead would be.
Traditional festivities to mark the passing of one year and the start of another include gathering with friends and family to honour ancestors, share food, sing, and tell stories.
27 June: Islamic New Year
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, based on the moon’s orbit of the Earth. The first month of the Islamic year or Muharram, begins with the first sighting of the first new crescent moon in the lunar calendar.
In observance of Muharram, Muslims around the world reflect on their faith, pray and spend time with their family.
11 September: Enkutatash – Ethiopian New Year
The celebration of Enkutatash (meaning ‘gift of jewels’) has its origins in the time of the Queen of Sheba. The story goes that on her return from her visit to King Solomon, the Queen was welcomed back by her people with a gift of precious jewels. Her return coincided with the end of the rainy season and the blooming of beautiful, yellow adey ababa flowers.
Today, celebrations include the lighting of bonfires, the sharing of traditional meals of chicken stew and injera with family and the performing of traditional songs.
22 – 24 September: Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year
‘Rosh Hashanah’ means ‘head of the year’ and is a celebration of the creation of the world. In the Jewish faith, it is a holy day on which people reflect on their relationship with God and ask for forgiveness.
One of the most important traditions of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of a horn called a Shofar, one of the world’s oldest known wind instruments. The sound of the Shofar marks the start of a 10 day period called Days of Awe, leading up to Yom Kippur, another important Jewish festival.
Food is also an important part of Rosh Hashanah celebrations. Slices of apple dipped in honey and honey cake are eaten to symbolise a sweet new year ahead. People also bake and eat Challah – a bread baked in a round shape symbolising the circle of life and the end of the year. Pomegranates also feature, representing the commandments that a Jewish person should follow.
20 October: Diwali – Festival of Lights
The theme of Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights, is the victory of good over evil. It is the biggest festival in the Hindu lunar calendar and is celebrated over 5 days.
- On the first day, people clean their homes and purchase gold items to help bring good fortune.
- On the second day, homes are decorated with clay lamps symbolising the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness and colored sand, arranged in special patterns called rangoli.
- The third day is the main day of celebrations where families gather together to pray to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, enjoy feasts and let off fireworks.
- The fourth day is the first day of the new year and is marked by visits to friends and family.
- Traditionally on day 5, brothers visit their married sisters to enjoy a meal together.
Each of the new year celebrations described above hold special significance for those that observe them. Brands that are mindful of important cultural moments like these will build stronger connections with their customers around the world. A fully localised content strategy is key to building a successful, trusted international brand and business.
Whether you need scaled support to execute on your strategy or are just getting started, we can help. Get in touch today to learn more about CultureSmith’s international content services.
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