Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Snake

(Chalinee Thirasupa - Reuters)

The 2025 Lunar New Year is here! Rooted in over 3,500 years of history, the Chinese New Year is one of the most significant festivals in Chinese culture. The Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, among other countries. It follows the lunar calendar, with celebrations lasting for fifteen days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, the holiday represents a time to honor ancestors, welcome prosperity, and embrace fresh beginnings.

Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun, the lunar calendar follows the moon's cycles to determine days, weeks, and months. The Year of the Snake in 2025 begins on January 29 and will conclude on February 16, 2026. The snake is the sixth sign in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, appearing once every dozen years. 

According to Chinese mythology, the order of the zodiac animals was determined by a big race where creatures raced to cross a large river. Since the snake was one of the weakest swimmers, it hid on the horse's hoof. As they approached the finish line, the snake suddenly leaped ahead, startling the horse and securing sixth place. So because of this, the snake is an example of intelligence, strategy, and resourcefulness.

Each year in the Chinese zodiac is associated with one of twelve animals, and 2025 brings the Year of the Snake. The snake symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and transformation, traits that are often linked to personal growth and renewal. Customs such as cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck, lighting firecrackers to ward off evil spirits, and gathering for reunion dinners are all integral to the festivities.

As families gather to honor traditions, share meals, and embrace the new year's energy, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on ambition and the pursuit of greatness. Two films on TheArchive beautifully capture these themes: Superdragon: The Bruce Lee Story and Juggling Dreams.

Bruce Lee’s journey of transformation and resilience is illustrated in the movie Superdragon: The Bruce Lee Story. This dramatic and fascinating story traces Bruce Lee's life and loves from his humble beginnings to his status as an international cult hero, ultimately leading to his mysterious and tragic death at the age of 32. This film traces his meteoric rise from humble beginnings to becoming a global martial arts icon. Like the snake of the Chinese zodiac, Bruce Lee embodied intelligence, agility, and adaptability, overcoming racial barriers and industry skepticism to revolutionize the action genre in film.

While Lunar New Year traditions often emphasize family, prosperity, and fortune, Juggling Dreams highlights a lesser-seen side of modern China—the struggles of homeless children. This documentary follows the lives of young performers given a chance to train with Cirque du Soleil, offering them a way out of hardship and into a world of artistic expression and opportunity.

The Lunar New Year is a reminder that the past does not define us—the choices we make moving forward do. Superdragon: The Bruce Lee Story and Juggling Dreams reflect the themes of ambition, resilience, and cultural identity that make this holiday so meaningful. May the new year bring you all lots of joy, health, and prosperity! Gong Xi Fa Cai. 

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TheArchive channel is dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft, and silver screen fun – streaming rare, retro, and restored films and classic TV. From indies and series, to Oscar winning documentaries, unearthed MOWs, and a killer horror library, TheArchive delivers forgotten, never-before-seen gems for free and many in 4K. Marilyn, Karloff, and Orson Welles stream alongside Reese, Keanu, and Samuel L. Jackson. Find true stories of Queen, Hendrix, and Sinatra, an LGBTQ library, MLK bios, and world history docs. TheArchive has the movies and shows you either saw, should’ve seen, or should be watching now!