Celebrating Chinese New Year in Reading: Your Complete Guide

27 January 2025

Reading's Chinese New Year Festival: What's On

Reading's vibrant Chinese community takes centre stage during the Lunar New Year celebrations, with the Year of the Wood Snake in 2025 bringing spectacular festivities to Reading's streets. Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.

The Lunar New Year 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29th, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 12th.

To celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese Zodiac, Reading Chinese School, in partnership with Reading Borough Council, BID and local schools and communities, is organising a day-long celebration event at Reading Town Hall. The iconic lion dance will transform Broad Street into a sea of colour and movement, and the Reading Chinese Association will coordinate performances that have become a much-anticipated feature of the town's cultural calendar.

The
Reading Chinese Community Centre on Oxford Road serves as the cultural nucleus for these celebrations. During the New Year period, the centre hosts workshops on traditional paper cutting, calligraphy, and dumpling making, offering visitors authentic insights into Chinese cultural practices. In addition to all of this, nearby Thatcham’s town council is holding its first Chinese New Year Celebration Market on Sunday, February 2nd, at The Broadway in Thatcham. The stalls will open from 10 am to 4 pm and Chinese Lion Dance performances will be at 11am and 12.30pm.

Performers in bright red and yellow lion costumes dance vibrantly in a Chinese New Year street parade in Reading, while excited onlookers cheer them on from the background.

So what’s the difference between the Lunar Year and the Chinese New Year? Well, the first is a broader cultural festival celebrated across multiple Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Korea, and others, marking the beginning of a new year according to the lunisolar calendar, whereas Chinese New Year specifically refers to the traditional celebration based on the Chinese lunar calendar. It features unique Chinese cultural customs, family reunions, and specific rituals like red envelope gifting, lion dances, and elaborate festive meals that are distinctly tied to Chinese cultural traditions.

At the heart of the celebrations are traditions that have been preserved through generations. For example, the exchange of red envelopes (hong bao), which contain money and symbolise good wishes and prosperity . Local families also gather for reunion dinners, a practice that epitomises the festival's emphasis on family bonds and continuity.

British-Chinese Celebrations

Educational initiatives play a crucial role in sharing Chinese cultural heritage. Reading Chinese School organises special New Year activities for students and their families , while local mainstream schools increasingly incorporate Chinese New Year celebrations into their curricula, reflecting Reading's commitment to cultural diversity and understanding.

The festival's impact on Reading's retail sector is notable. Many local shops along Oxford Road and in the Oracle Centre stock traditional decorations, red envelopes, and ceremonial items. The Harris Arcade, with its eclectic mix of independent retailers, often features special displays celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Your Home Away from Home: Celebrate in Comfort at Celador Apartments

For visitors wishing to immerse themselves in the festivities, Celador Apartments offers the perfect base in the heart of Reading. Our apartments’ prime locations provide easy access to all the celebration hotspots. The central location and comfortable amenities ensure visitors can fully participate in all aspects of the festival while enjoying the conveniences of a home away from home.

30 July 2026
Learn practical tips to stay productive while travelling for work, from planning ahead and managing time zones to creating an efficient mobile workspace.
by Chris Brown 27 July 2026
Reading comes alive during the summer months, offering a unique mix of cultural events, riverside escapes, independent restaurants, and thriving business connections. Whether you're visiting for a weekend break, attending an event, or spending an extended period in the area for work, choosing the right accommodation can make a significant difference to your experience. For visitors looking for more than a traditional hotel room, serviced apartments in Reading provide the ideal balance of comfort, flexibility and convenience. Celador Apartments offers a collection of spacious serviced apartments designed for both leisure and business travellers, combining the freedom of a home-from-home stay with the reassurance of professional service. And with more travellers choosing to stay longer and live more freely when they're away, serviced apartments in Reading are the standout choice for a summer visit, offering a level of comfort and flexibility that you won’t find in a hotel.
23 June 2026
Heading to Reading for a work project, an extended corporate contract, or a relocation assignment? Your accommodation choice matters far more than a lot of business travellers realise.  A comfortable, well-equipped base will improve your productivity and focus, and you’ll also have a much better time! More and more switched-on business travellers are choosing serviced apartments over hotels, and Reading is one of the UK's best places to see why.
10 June 2026
Reading town centre has no shortage of brilliant sit-down dining options, ideal for those with time to spare or anyone fancying a proper meal before heading home. Here, we've done the hard work for you, rounding up the finest spots for everything from casual weekday lunches to long, relaxed evening dinners.
8 June 2026
Why Reading Contractors Are Choosing Serviced Apartments Over Hotels
3 June 2026
If you’ve never been to Reading before, now is the perfect time to visit. That’s because this historic town has blossomed into a flourishing business and leisure destination that is attracting more and more visitors from around the UK and abroad. Reading rewards the curious visitor, and as such, this guide will help you make the most of your time here. Here’s everything you need to know before visiting for work, a weekend break, or a longer stay.
18 May 2026
The Space Advantage of Serviced Apartments Gives You Room to Breathe
13 May 2026
There are many reasons why Reading has become a magnet for people relocating from around the UK and abroad. It’s why the historic town has recently been named one of the UK’s most attractive places to move to, according to a new report that created a ‘ Move-In Magnet ’ Index to identify desirable locations. Reading ranked highly in the study, driven by growth in new-build completions, strong employment availability, and rising footfall in the town centre.
A luxurious interior of a serviced apartment
11 May 2026
Discover The Faculty serviced apartments in Reading. Enjoy stylish interiors, premium comfort, high-speed Wi-Fi, and hotel-quality guest support.
6 April 2026
Reading is built around several different business clusters, each with its own character and commuting requirements. For contractors on long or short-term assignments, getting clued up on these zones before choosing accommodation can save considerable time and expense. Here’s everything you need to know.
Show More