“As the new year unfolds, may you shed the past and rise, like the serpent, with renewed strength and purpose.”
The Lunar New Year is celebrated from January 29th until February 16th. In the Chinese Zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. Snake years symbolize and are believed to bring a time of reflection, change, and personal growth.
Our Lunar New Year collection celebrates the snakes’ powerful energy and manifests the serpent’s focus and ability to change as it encounters new environments.
When tasked with creating this collection for you, we took the opportunity to explore the mysticism, symbolism, and mystery surrounding the serpent and how we could use our trove of ingredients to embody them. We also wanted this collection to remind those partaking in it or in Lunar New Year celebrations to take a moment to pause, reflect on the past year, and prepare for growth in the new one.
The Year of the Snake is considered a year for reflection and careful planning, and there are a host of things to engage in at the start of it. Given the snake’s reputation for being watchful and deliberate, be encouraged to approach decisions and interactions with care and thoughtfulness as you begin this year.
Here are some ideas, rituals, and a recipe we love for a jumpstart to 2025!
To ready yourself, you might celebrate the year of the snake (as is a tradition) by cleaning your home. This is a symbolic “shedding of skin,” echoing the snake’s renewal process, sweeping away the old and opening the home to new fortune’s arrival.
You might also clear your thoughts and ritualize a farewell to the past year:
A Ritual of Transformation
-Create a sacred space. Clear any clutter within it as a symbol of shedding past burdens.
-Select a truffle and place it on a small plate.
-Sit, close your eyes, and center your body by taking a few deep breaths.
Visualize a snake shedding its skin, leaving behind what no longer serves it. Imagine that you are releasing old patterns, fears, and limitations.
-On a small piece of paper, write any negative emotions, habits, and challenges you wish to shed.
-Take a moment to sit in silence and visualize yourself as the serpent, poised for a new journey, free from the past. Rip up the paper, bury it in your garden, or wet it and place it in the freezer to halt what hinders your growth.
-Take a new piece of paper and write down your intentions for the upcoming year. Fold the paper and place it in front of the truffle, a physical manifestation of your future.
-Enjoy the truffle and allow the sweetness of possibility to dance on your palate and welcome a new beginning.
Gifts are also a tradition for the Lunar New Year. The elders of a family give red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried younger relatives. The red color symbolizes good luck and wards off evil spirits. The money inside represents blessings for health, happiness, and success. Snakes are associated with financial luck, making the giving and receiving of red envelopes especially significant in a Snake Year.
The first days of the Lunar New Year are dedicated to visiting relatives and friends and bringing gifts, such as oranges, which symbolize wealth.
Firecrackers are set off at midnight on the eve of the Lunar New Year to ward off evil spirits and welcome the new year with energy. The loud noises are said to scare away a mythical beast, which is part of the holiday folklore.
People wear new clothes, often in red, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which symbolizes a fresh start and brings good luck.
A Few Notes on the Year of the Snake
The snake's symbolism is well-documented and offers great teachings. It is associated with yin energy, symbolizing deep thought and transformation. It also embodies intelligence and charm. The snake is sometimes considered a smaller counterpart to the dragon, sharing its wisdom and mystical qualities. During the Lunar New Year in a Snake Year, the snake's quieter but equally powerful energy is celebrated.
Snakes are often seen as protectors of treasure or sacred knowledge. They symbolize safeguarding blessings for the year ahead. People born in the Year of the Snake are often seen as wise, intuitive, and mysterious.
The superior sourced ingredients of this collection not only highlight the symbols and customs of the Lunar New Year but also impart lessons for a healthful 2025. Adding these ingredients to your diet is another way to start the new year with the best intentions.
Here are some of our favorites:
High-phenolic olive oil contains antioxidants that reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and protect against chronic diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Its anti-inflammatory properties also support joint and gut health. We love the olive oil from Kyoord that we use in our chocolates.
Yuzu is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which boost the immune system, promote skin health, and reduce inflammation. Its citrus compounds may also improve digestion, enhance blood circulation, and provide calming aromatherapeutic effects. Add yuzu to recipes for brightness in place of lemon or lime.
Pineapple is rich in bromelain, an enzyme that aids digestion and supports immune health. Its antioxidants and nutrients promote healthy skin and improve bone strength. Pineapple makes a great addition to morning smoothies.
Goji berries are also packed with antioxidants and boost energy levels. They are also known to enhance eye health and support overall well-being. The sweetness of goji berries is a great accompaniment to their salty opposites, making them a tasty addition to trail mixes or chocolate chip cookies.
Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols. They also promote healthy digestion, enhance brain function, and are helpful for their anti-aging properties. Drinking pomegranate juice regularly can be a great way to improve your overall health.
To incorporate some of these ingredients into your Lunar New Year celebrations and as an accompaniment to our chocolates, we also love a festive cocktail for start-of-the-year fetes.
Lunar New Year Refresh
Ingredients:
2 oz pomegranate juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz yuzu juice (freshly squeezed or bottled)
1.5 oz vodka or white rum (optional for a mocktail)
1/2 oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1 tsp simple syrup (optional for sweetness)
Ice cubes
Club soda float
Garnish with a pineapple wedge, pomegranate seeds, or a thin yuzu slice
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, combine pomegranate juice, pineapple juice, yuzu juice, lime juice, vodka or rum (if using), and simple syrup.
Add ice to the shaker.
Shake for 20 seconds to ensure everything is mixed and chilled.
Strain the mixture into a glass with fresh ice.
Top with club soda for a little bubbly.
Add a pineapple wedge, a few pomegranate seeds, or a slice of yuzu for a vibrant finish.
And toast to your good health!
We hope you begin this Lunar New Year with the curiosity and contemplation of the snake, that you take some bits and bites from this gathering of our thoughts, chocolates, and activities as we start our new year at Vosges, and that you make good fortune your fate in 2025!
