Chinese New Year (CNY), also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most significant and vibrant celebrations in Chinese culture. As millions prepare for the lunar new year filled with family reunions, red envelopes and fireworks, Spacia Group encourages our clients to capitalize on import purchasing to avoid any delays. How does a 15-day celebration in late-January/mid-February affect us now? Let's learn more about CNY traditions, timing and impact.
What is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, deeply rooted in tradition and mythology, begins with the lunar new year. The lunar calendar, central to Chinese New Year, typically starts between January 21 and February 20. Each lunar year is associated with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, creating a 12-year cycle. These animals—rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig—are believed to influence the personalities and fortunes of those born in that year. As such, the zodiac plays a part in CNY festivities.
CNY is celebrated by millions of people around the world, primarily in China and among Chinese communities in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It is observed by people of Chinese descent in Western countries and other regions, where cultural festivals and events are organized to mark the occasion.
The occasion is full of festivities emphasizing family, renewal and prosperity. Families celebrate by decorating their homes with red lanterns, couplets and images of the designated zodiac animal. The color red, believed to ward off evil spirits, encapsulates the hopes and wishes for a prosperous and joyful year ahead. Celebrations typically last for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival. Each day is filled with various activities such as cultural performances, house cleaning, visiting temples, lion and dragon dances, fireworks and firecrackers, serving and eating special dishes, and a New Year's Eve reunion dinner.
When is Chinese New Year?
In 2025 (can you believe we're coming up on our new year?!), Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29, and is the beginning of the Year of the Snake.
The Year of the Snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle. Those born in the Year of the Snake are thought to possess qualities such as wisdom, charm and intuition. They are seen as analytical, graceful, and, at times, secretive. Each snake year is associated with one of the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal or water—adding further characteristics to that year's snake personalities. For instance, 2025 marks the Year of the Wood Snake, symbolizing growth, creativity and flexibility.
Chinese New Year's Impact on Imports
The significance of CNY extends beyond cultural festivities; it also has a substantial impact on global trade and import sales. Leading up to the new year, many factories in China close for extended periods as employees travel home to celebrate with their families. Delays in communication and production are expected during this time period. The new year also poses logistical challenges. Transportation and shipping sectors experience a rush before the holiday as companies scramble to meet demands. This often leads to congestion at ports and setbacks in logistics.
Chinese New Year & Spacia Group
Spacia Group's import items include backlit mirrors, decorative mirrorsand barn doors.
Typical order lead time for import items is 16-20 weeks, triggered by receipt of purchase order, deposit and all necessary approvals. Keep in mind, import finish samples can take up to 3-4 weeks.
Air freight delivery may reduce import lead time by several weeks but is an added expense. If timeline is tight and budget allows, air freight may be a considerable option.
Providing complete information when requesting a quotation, as well as placing an order, supports accuracy and consistency. Everything we do is custom to you and your project, and we provide pricing per your completed specifications. Help us ensure your needs are understood and expectations are met—often exceeded.
If your project includes one of our imported items (backlit mirror, decorative mirror and/or barn doors), be advised. An encouraging message from our Procurement and Imports Manager Melissa Druen:
"Please consider placing all import orders by November 1 of this year. Ideally, this should allow enough time for production to ensure your order gets shipped out before the Chinese New Year shutdown. Placing orders before November 1 is even better! This increases the probability of having your products when you need them, plus gives you some peace of mind.
If you have specific requirements or urgent orders after the cutoff date, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your requests and provide you with the necessary support.
Be cognizant that all importers are scheduling around CNY. Therefore, as JAnuary 29 approaches, the bottleneck for shipping becomes greater. Plus, as we have all seen in the past, there is a large logjam of orders directly following Chinese New Year. If you need products around the April/May period, it is advisable to place orders before the shutdown."