Blog Entries

Slithering Into the Year of the Snake

Wisdom, Faith, and Festive Reflections


Lunar New Year holds a central place in Chinese culture—a cherished time for family reunions, meaningful traditions, and deep cultural significance. Whether you’ve encountered Chinese culture through movies, friendships, or visits to Chinese communities, you’ve likely felt the importance of this vibrant celebration.

The season is rich with customs: cleaning the house, putting up spring couplets, enjoying New Year’s Eve reunion dinners, wearing new clothes, and exchanging red envelopes. For Chinese Christians, the Lunar New Year offers a unique opportunity to reflect on their faith and share the hope of Christ with loved ones. Amid joyous celebrations, they may also face challenges like navigating ancestral worship, idolatrous customs, and differing beliefs within families. This deeply personal yet culturally significant season beautifully intertwines heritage and faith journeys.

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, our team has prepared a short video to send heartfelt New Year’s blessings to all our readers! We also invite you to explore our archive of articles that delve into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the Lunar New Year. These reflections provide practical insights on how Chinese Christians can embrace the holiday with wisdom, faith, and intentionality. Wishing you and your family a joyful and blessed Lunar New Year! 蛇年大吉,“蛇”么都有!

Snake in Chinese Culture and the Bible

Snakes hold a complex place in Chinese and Western traditions, symbolizing both admiration and fear. In Chinese mythology, they represent renewal, wisdom, and power, while the Bible portrays them as symbols of sin, danger, and healing.

  • Takeaway: The Year of the Snake reminds Christians of Christ’s victory over sin, calling them to live with shrewdness, innocence, and divine wisdom.

Chinese Christians and the Chinese Zodiac

This article examines the Chinese zodiac’s roots in animal worship and its implications for believers. It encourages Christians to navigate traditional practices thoughtfully, avoiding idolatry while respecting cultural heritage.

  • Takeaway: Evaluate traditions through a biblical lens to honor God and engage with cultural identity harmoniously.

Reflections on the Year of the Dragon

Before celebrating this Year of the Snake, we welcomed the Year of the Dragon. Last year, we devoted an entire series to examining the dragon’s dual symbolism in Chinese culture and Christianity. This series encouraged believers to thoughtfully navigate the balance between cultural respect and scriptural truth, promoting a meaningful integration of both.

  • Takeaway: Assess cultural symbols critically to integrate heritage and faith meaningfully.

Churches in China Prepare for the New Year

This article highlights how churches in China engage with their communities during the Lunar New Year, distributing Christian couplets and sharing the message of God’s love.

  • Takeaway: Chinese churches actively participate in New Year traditions, offering unique opportunities to share the gospel and bless their communities.

Red Packets and Grace

This article explores the cultural practice of giving red packets and its deeper spiritual significance for Chinese Christians, highlighting how such traditions can reflect God’s grace. It also features a short video from CantoSense that delves into the cultural practice of red packets and its profound spiritual meaning, offering insights on how Christians can use this tradition to express faith and love.

  • Takeaway: Reimagine cultural practices like giving red packets as opportunities to express love and share the message of grace.

Is the Year of the Sheep Really Unlucky?

This article examines the superstition surrounding the Year of the Sheep, questioning the belief that those born in this year are destined for misfortune. It emphasizes that true blessings come from God, not cultural traditions or superstitions.

  • Takeaway: Challenge superstitions and cultivate a culture grounded in biblical truth, trusting in God’s sovereignty over human traditions.

Where Did They Get That Idea?

Mark Newland reflects on the parallels between Chinese New Year and Jewish Passover, exploring universal themes of renewal, unity, and protection.

  • Takeaway: Celebrate the shared human experiences reflected in cultural traditions.

What to Take Home for the New Year

Pastor Cheng Fengsheng emphasizes the importance of sharing Christ’s love through a transformed life during family reunions.

  • Takeaway: Let your actions reflect Christ’s love, introducing the gospel through your life.

Sharing the Gospel with Your Family at Spring Festival

Family gatherings during the Spring Festival can be a powerful opportunity to reflect Christ’s love. Even when direct evangelism feels difficult, your actions, patience, and kindness can serve as a living testament to your faith. By trusting in God’s timing and focusing on authentic relationships, you can plant seeds of hope and grace that may open hearts to the gospel.

  • Takeaway: Live out your faith authentically, trusting God’s timing to open hearts.

Opportunities and Challenges During Chinese New Year

Joann Pittman discusses the opportunities for evangelism and service during the Lunar New Year while addressing cultural complexities.

  • Takeaway: Use the New Year as a chance to reflect Christ’s love and navigate traditions with discernment.

We hope these reflections inspire you to embrace the Year of the Snake with wisdom and faith. As you navigate family traditions, share the gospel, or work toward your New Year resolutions, may your days be filled with God’s abundant grace and steadfast love. At ChinaSource, we are honored to walk alongside you, sharing in the journey of experiencing God’s incredible faithfulness.

This year, may we live out Jesus’ words: “Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), embracing the wisdom and purity needed to shine His light in the world. Together, we can continue supporting the work of sharing His truth and love with others. Your partnership helps make this vision a reality—may we journey forward together in His amazing plan.

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Image credit: castellanos80 via Adobe Stock
ChinaSource Team

ChinaSource Team

Written, translated, or edited by members of the ChinaSource staff.          View Full Bio


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