It is the Year of the Wood Snake in 2025! Hearing that may have put you on guard as many of us see snakes as creatures to avoid. But did you know? In some cultures, snakes are seen as deity — as protectors (Korea) or messengers of a god (Japan). In Vietnamese culture, snakes even provide medicine.

The snake, the sixth animal in the zodiac, is the centrepiece of this year’s Lunar New Year bus. It’s complemented by elements that have symbolic meanings in cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year.

Attending the Lunar New Year parade in Vancouver is truly one of the sensational local events to look forward to every year. You will be treated with immersive dragon and lion dances, hear from local marching bands, and maybe receive lucky red envelopes!

You’re soaking in the fun and luck as you’re surrounded by a sea of red — a lucky colour in Chinese culture.

Aside from the high-energy events, Lunar New Year is also time to reflect on the previous year and invite good fortune and prosperity for the new year.

If you believe in symbolism and wish to incorporate them in your life, take inspiration from pieces on our Lunar New Year bus! Here’s what they symbolize.

Snake

The nature of snakes to shed skin and hibernate in winter make them a symbol of rebirth. One can also see them as a symbol for growth as snakes grow from a simple snake, to a serpent, and — in Korean and Chinese cultures — to a dragon.

Snakes can also symbolize authority. Ancient envoys, which are messengers of a government or organization, usually carried a scepter with two snakes when kings sent them on a mission to other countries.

People born in the Year of the Snake (1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025), are believed to be wise, charming, strategic, and adaptable.

If it is your zodiac year, known as 本命年 (Beng Ming Nian) in Chinese, then the year is believed to bring misfortunes. But incorporating things that bring luck in your life is believed keep bad luck away. It can be as simple as wearing red and black throughout the year, which are lucky colours for those born in the Year of the Snake.

Flowers

Whether or not it’s your Beng Ming Nian, it’s believed that you can invite luck in your life and at home just by displaying flowers, specifically blossoms — a mass of flowers growing together — like orchids.

The flower art on the bus takes inspiration from floral art on Indonesian batik patterns. It’s one of Indonesia’s most ancient art forms and is commonly found on fabrics and clothing.

Colours

Colours are also believed to bring luck for cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year. Just as one would wear their lucky colours on the parade, of course the Lunar New Year bus would too!

Red

Red is the colour for celebration, happiness, success, and luck. The Lunar New Year parade will see red everywhere — from clothes, decorations, and envelopes being handed out. So naturally, red is the highlight of the Lunar New Year bus just as the snake is, as tribute for Year of the Snake.

Gold

Gold is often paired with red in Lunar New Year envelope designs because their meanings complement each other. Gold is believed to bring good fortune and financial prosperity.

Purple

To make the red pop, the bus is wrapped in a purple background. This colour symbolizes nobility and power so it’s associated with wealth, success, and prosperity. When combined with the two other colours of fortune — red and gold — purple too is believed to bring good luck.

Pink

Just as pink is associated with Valentine’s Day, pink in Lunar New Year also symbolizes love and harmony. Displaying pink is believed to bring positive energy.

Orange

Did you know? The orange fruit is a lucky fruit! A box of oranges is given as gifts because they’re believed to bring good luck and happiness. So, just as this fruit is believed to bring luck, so does its colour.

Are you coming to the Lunar New Year Parade? Keep an eye for the Lunar New Year bus and the TransLink team for some red envelopes! 🧧 After the parade, you can find the Lunar New Year bus in service around Vancouver.

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