Also known as the Spring Festival, the occasion marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar and each year it is categorised by an animal.

For many who celebrate, this year will be the year of the Wood Snake. 2025's zodiac animal is a special occasion, with the Wood Snake being a rare occurrence in the Chinese calendar.

In Chinese custom, the zodiac operates on a 12 year cycle of animals paired with one of five elements, wood, fire, Earth, metal or water. The other 11 animals of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The last time the Wood Snake appeared in the cycle was in 1965, making this year very significant. The snake is a symbol of wisdom, intuition and transformation while the wood element represents growth and renewal.

The new year festival lasts for two weeks and will begin on Wednesday, January 29. It falls on a slightly different date each year due to the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

The calendar depends on the movement of the moon, which typically defines other traditional festivals such as the Lantern and Dragon Boat Festival. Last year, Manchester city centre saw bright red lanterns light up and thousands line the streets in its 'busiest ever' Dragon Parade.

While Chinese New Year is a period of huge celebration within the UK, it is not a public holiday like it is in China and other Asian countries. Despite this, Greater Manchester-based Chinese-owned businesses, along with others across the country, may close temporarily or have different operating hours.