According to the (Singaporean) Chinese Tradition, individuals who bank their money at certain times according to their Chinese Zodiac on Li Chun (the beginning of Spring) will enjoy a prosperous start to their new year! This year, Li Chun begins on 3 February 2025, 10.10pm — so be prepared, mentally and physically, for the hordes of kiasu Singaporeans queuing up at banks island-wide in their attempt to bring in good luck and fortune during Li Chun 2025!
But, just in case you are the jiak kantang kind of Singaporean and have no idea what this Li Chun festival is all about (no, it is not Street Fighter – that’s Chun Li), and you’re still interested to huat, or maybe you are just kaypoh and want to jump onto the bandwagon — Here’s a useful timetable to tell you when you need to deposit your money into the bank based on your Chinese Zodiac to maximise your luck.
What is Li Chun?
Li Chun is a date on the Chinese calendar that marks the beginning of spring. It often falls around the same time as Chinese New Year, although the dates can vary — Chinese New Year might actually come before or after Li Chun. This year, Li Chun begins on 3 February 2025, at 10.10pm.
In places like China, Li Chun traditions include eating spring rolls and trying to balance eggs upright on flat surfaces. But in Singapore, there’s a local superstition that people believe in: if you deposit money into your bank account at the right time based on your Chinese zodiac sign, you’ll enjoy a huat-ful start to the year. So, you could say we celebrate Li Chun by “seeding” our bank accounts for a bountiful year!
Best timings for Li Chun 2025 based on your zodiac sign
| Zodiac | Date | Most auspicious timings | Lucky timings |
| Rat | 3 Feb | – | 11pm – 1am |
| 4 Feb | 1am – 3am 7am – 9am |
3am – 5am 9am – 11am |
|
| Ox | 3 Feb | 11pm – 1am | – |
| 4 Feb | 9am – 11am
5pm – 7pm |
1am – 3am 3am – 5am |
|
| Tiger | 3 Feb | – | 11pm – 1am |
| 4 Feb | – | 1am – 3am 3am – 5am 7am – 9am 1pm – 3pm 5pm – 7pm |
|
| Rabbit | 3 Feb | – | – |
| 4 Feb | 1pm – 3pm | 1am – 3am 3am – 5am 9am – 11am |
|
| Dragon | 3 Feb | 11pm – 1am | – |
| 4 Feb | 5pm – 7pm | 3am – 5am 9am – 11am 1pm – 3pm |
|
| Snake | 3 Feb | – | 11pm – 1am |
| 4 Feb | 1am – 3am 5pm – 7pm |
7am – 9am 9am – 11am 1pm – 3pm |
|
| Horse | 3 Feb | – | – |
| 4 Feb | 3am – 5am 1pm – 3pm |
7am – 9am 9am – 11am 5pm – 7pm |
|
| Goat | 3 Feb | – | – |
| 4 Feb | – | 3am – 5am 7am – 9am 9am – 11am 1pm – 3pm 5pm – 7pm |
|
| Monkey | 3 Feb | 11pm – 1am | – |
| 4 Feb | 7am – 9am | 1am – 3am 1pm – 3pm 5pm – 7pm |
|
| Rooster | 3 Feb | – | – |
| 4 Feb | 1am – 3am 7am – 9am 9am – 11am |
3am – 5am 1pm – 3pm |
|
| Dog | 3 Feb | – | 11pm – 1am |
| 4 Feb | 1am – 3am 7am – 9am9am – 11am |
1pm – 3pm | |
| Pig | 3 Feb | – | 11pm – 1am |
| 4 Feb | 1pm – 3pm | 1am – 3am 7am – 9am 5pm – 7pm |
Similarly, there are inauspicious hours you must avoid:
- 3 February, 1pm – 3pm and 5pm – 7pm
- 4 February, 11am – 1pm, 3pm – 5pm, 7pm – 9pm
Auspicious colours for each zodiac sign in 2025
| Zodiac | Zodiac years | Auspicious colours |
| Rat | 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 | Blue, army green, red |
| Ox | 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 | Green, white |
| Tiger | 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 | Purple, yellow, green |
| Rabbit | 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 | Pink, red |
| Dragon | 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 | Silver, gold |
| Snake | 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 | Red, black, yellow |
| Horse | 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 | Yellow, red, green |
| Goat | 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 | Brown, red |
| Monkey | 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 | Blue |
| Rooster | 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 | Gold, green |
| Dog | 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 | Red, green |
| Pig | 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 | Yellow, gold |
Hacks to avoid the snakin’ long queues this Li Chun 2025
Waiting in line can feel like forever, whether at the bank or the cash deposit machines. But don’t worry, we have some clever hacks to help you skip the hassle and enjoy a smoother experience.
Avoid Li Chun peak hours (if possible)
We’ve noticed that the busiest time for Li Chun will be on 4 February 2025, specifically from 9am to 11am and again from 1pm to 3pm. If your most auspicious timings (for signs like Rat, Monkey, or Rooster) fall outside these peak hours, try to plan your deposits for those quieter periods.
Go digital with PayNow or DBS PayLah!
Why bother with ATMs when you can transfer money straight into your digital wallet? Apps like PayNow, DBS PayLah!, and OCBC Pay Anyone let you transfer funds quickly and easily without stepping into a queue.
Turn up the huat this Li Chun 2025!
Are you ready for Li Chun this year? Get your alarm clocks and set those reminders on your phones for this important day. Also, if you plan to get CNY outfits such as modern cheongsams based on your lucky colours, now’s a great time to grab them at attractive discounts during our Shopee CNY Sale! Here’s one more tip to ensure you HUAT big this 2025 — pick a trendy hair colour that matches your lucky colour.
This article was updated on 30 December 2024. Additional research done by Shermyn Tan.
