2025 is the Year of...

21 Themes and 'Year of' Events for 2025

PART ONE, THE FIRST 12

Every year, various organizations announce the theme for the year. These themes can focus on causes, such as aesthetics and color trends, to global areas of focus, such as green energy, agriculture and human rights. The following are the announced focus years for 2025.

As this is a very long list, I've abbreviated the descriptions and divided them into two issues: Issue One and this one. Issue Two will be released on December 6th.

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Click through the links or images for a full accounting of each event.

Curious about previous years' annual themes? Check them out through these links...

2024 | 2023 | 2022

1) 2025, THE YEAR OF THE PEA

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Fleuroselect Home Garden Association, The National Garden Bureau

Fleuroselect Home Garden Association in The Netherlands and The National Garden Bureau in North America have declared 2025 the Year of the Pea. The initiative aims to highlight the importance of peas in our diets, their historical significance, and the variety of ways to enjoy them.

Peas come in several varieties, each with unique characteristics:

• Garden Peas (Pisum sativum)—These are the most common type, also known as English peas. They are typically shelled before eating.

• Snow Peas (Pisum sativum var. saccharate)— are often eaten whole, including the pod, and are recognized by their flat pods.

• Snap Peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon)—a cross between garden peas and snow peas. They have a plump pod that can be eaten whole.

Peas originated in the Middle East around 8,000 years ago and spread to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Throughout history, they have been valued for their nutritional content and ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.

2) 2025, THE YEAR OF THE DOGWOOD TREE

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: National Garden Bureau

The Year of the Dogwood Tree celebrates this beloved and versatile tree, renowned for its breathtaking spring blossoms, vibrant autumn foliage, and overall ornamental appeal. This recognition calls on all gardening enthusiasts and conservationists to cultivate and appreciate dogwood trees' beauty in landscapes and gardens worldwide.

Dogwood trees belong to the genus Cornus and are known for their distinctive flowers, which are bracts that surround the actual flowers. They are deciduous trees or shrubs with species varying in size, from small to medium-sized trees. The most commonly known species is the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), native to temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.

3) 2025, THE AFRICAN YEAR OF JUSTICE AND REPARATIONS

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: African Continent

Champion: African Union

Through the African Year of Justice and Reparations, the African Union (AU) is intensifying its call for reparations to Africans on the continent and in the diaspora for the enduring harms caused by the transatlantic slave trade, slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism.

The movement for reparations is not new. It traces back to the early 20th century when Pan-African leaders and intellectuals like W.E. B. Du Boisand Marcus Garvey first advocated for the recognition of the devastating effects of slavery and colonialism. The decision to spotlight Justice and Reparations in 2025 is strategic. It coincides with significant anniversaries and milestones in African and global history, serving as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of slavery and colonialism. The year 2025 marks 130 years since the Berlin Conference, where European powers carved up Africa, leading to the colonial domination that has left lasting scars on the continent.

4) 2025, THE YEAR OF THE ASCLEPIAS

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: National Garden Bureau

The Year of Asclepias in 2025 celebrates the diverse and ecologically significant plants from the genus Asclepias, commonly known as milkweeds. The National Garden Bureau's designation aims to raise awareness about their importance in the environment, particularly their role in supporting pollinators like monarch butterflies. Asclepias, or milkweeds, are herbaceous perennials known for their milky sap and distinctive, beautiful flowers. They belong to the Apocynaceae family and are recognized for their unique floral structures, which include intricate blooms often arranged in umbels. The name 'milkweeds' is a tribute to the Greek god Asclepius, the deity of medicine, reflecting their historical use in traditional remedies.

5) 2025, CHINESE YEAR OF THE SNAKE (4723)

Dates: January 29, 2025 - February 16, 2026

Location: China

Champion: Chinese Cultural Event

2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese calendar, a unique system based on the moon's phases and running in 12-year cycles. Numerically, this year is 4723.

According to Chinese astrology, people born in the Year of the Snake are intelligent, mysterious, and wise. Private individuals tend to be analytical and prefer to work at their own pace, in their way, without sharing their feelings or thoughts. Despite being somewhat introverted, people born in the Year of the Snake usually have many admirers due to their sophistication and subtlety. Year of the Snake individuals are said to be financially fortunate and good at managing money, with strong intuition and determination. However, they can also be perceived as jealous, suspicious, stingy, and overcautious.

6) 2025, THE YEAR OF THE BEGONIA

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Fleuroselect Home Garden Association

The Fleuroselect Home Garden Association has declared 2025 the Year of the Begonia, a celebration that spotlights this beloved flower's enchanting beauty and versatile charm. This initiative is designed to inspire and intrigue, raising awareness about the diverse types of begonias, their origins, and their widespread use in gardens and homes worldwide.

Begonias come in diverse species and varieties, each offering unique beauty and appeal. The most common types include Tuberous Begonias (Begonia tuberhybrida), Fibrous Begonias (Begonia semperflorens), Rhizomatous Begonias (Begonia rex-cultorum) andCane Begonias (Begonia coccinea).

7) 2025, THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: United Nations

The International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) highlights cooperatives' role in socio-economic development, promotes their formation and growth, and raises public awareness of their contributions to economic stability and community building.

Cooperatives are member-owned, member-controlled enterprises that operate for the benefit of their members through voluntary and open membership principles, democratic member control, economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training, and information, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for the community.

The IYC seeks to raise awareness and increase public understanding of the benefits of cooperatives and their contributions to social and economic development. Additional initiatives aim to encourage the formation and growth of cooperatives worldwide and foster and enhance partnerships between cooperatives, governments, and other stakeholders. Showcase Impact—Demonstrate how cooperatives improve people's lives and strengthen communities.

8) 2025, THE YEAR OF THE CALADIUM

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: National Garden Bureau

The Year of Caladium celebrates the Picaso of plants. Popular in gardens and inside homes, the caladium features vibrant and decorative foliage that highlights the plants' beauty and versatility in gardens and landscapes worldwide.

Caladiums are tuberous tropical plants known for their stunning, colorful leaves, which come in various shapes and patterns. These leaves can display combinations of green, white, red, pink, and other hues, often with striking veining and variegation. The flower belongs to the Araceae family and is commonly grown for its ornamental value rather than its flowers.

9) 2025, THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: European Union

Champion: Council of Europe

The European Year of Digital Citizenship Education aims to enhance citizens' awareness and understanding of digital citizenship. It focuses on the rights, responsibilities, and skills required to navigate the online world safely and effectively. Digital citizenship refers to the responsible and ethical use of digital technology. It encompasses a range of skills and behaviors, including online safety, digital literacy, and the ability to engage positively and respectfully in digital communities.

Some people are particularly vulnerable to digital predators, including:

• Children and Teenagers—Online predators often target young people due to their lack of experience and understanding of online risks.

• Elderly Individuals—Seniors may be less familiar with digital technology and more susceptible to scams and misinformation.

• Individuals with Limited Digital Literacy—Those who need more skills to navigate the digital world safely are at higher risk of exploitation.

By raising awareness, enhancing skills, and promoting responsible behavior, the EU aims to equip its citizens with the tools to navigate the digital world safely and effectively while protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring that the benefits of digital technology are accessible to all while mitigating its risks.

10) 2025 HERB OF THE YEAR, MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: International Herb Association

2025 is the Year of Matricaria Chamomilla. Matricaria, commonly known as chamomile, is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. The genus includes several species, with the most well-known and widely used species being Matricaria chamomilla, commonly referred to as German chamomile or chamomile. Chamomile is native to Europe and Western Asia and in various regions worldwide for its medicinal and aromatic properties. Chamomile is a small, herbaceous plant that typically grows to a height of 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 centimeters). It has finely divided, feathery leaves, producing daisy-like flowers with a characteristic yellow center and white petals. The flowers are known for their pleasant, apple-like fragrance.

Chamomile has a long history of traditional use as a medicinal herb due to its calming and soothing properties. Chamomile tea, made by steeping the dried flowers in hot water, is a popular herbal remedy known for its relaxing effects and potential benefits for sleep and digestion.

11) 2025, THE YEAR OF JUBILEE

Dates: December 25, 2024 - December 24, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Roman Catholic Church

The Year of Jubilee reflects the Roman Catholic Church's traditions of mercy, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal while representing the continuity of Christian teachings and global unity. The most recent ordinary Jubilee, under Pope John Paul II, occurred in 2000. The next four ordinary Jubilees will be in 2025, 2050, 2075 and 2100.

CATHOLIC JUBILEE

The concept of a Jubilee in the context of the Roman Catholic Church is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon, wherein pilgrims come to Rome from around the world to seek spiritual renewal. The tradition dates to 1300 AD when Pope Boniface VIII declared Christianity's first Jubilee year. In 1470, Pope Paul II initiated a Jubilee Year every 25 years, thus ensuring every generation of mankind could experience at least one year of Jubilee within their lifetime. Occasionally, a Pope will declare an Extraordinary Jubilee outside the ordinary 25-year cycle. 2015 was such a year.

The Jubilee year has often been an opportunity for the Church to emphasize social justice and humanitarian efforts. These years have usually been marked by debt forgiveness, aid to the poor, and a focus on marginalized communities.

HEBREW JUBILEE

The concept of the Jubilee year originates in the Old Testament Book of Leviticus (Leviticus 25:8-13). It's an ancient practice with profound social, economic, and spiritual implications. It calls for a year of rest and resets every 50 years following seven cycles of seven years, known as "Shmita." 

A Jubilee year encompassed social justice, economic fairness, environmental stewardship, and spiritual renewal. It provided a model for periodic societal reset, ensuring that inequalities did not become entrenched over generations. For example, consider the Jubilee year tradition of releasing the land. Any land sold or acquired during the previous 49 years returns to its original owners or their heirs, thus ensuring land remained within families and tribes by preventing the permanent accumulation of land by a wealthy elite.

12) SEVENTEEN COLOR TRENDS FOR 2025

Date: January 1-December 31, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Multiple Organizations

It started with Pantone in the early 2000s, the annual declaration of the Color of the Year. Pantone is the originator and gets its exclusive entry in Part Two of this issue. Several other paint and decor companies now declare their color of the year. These colors tend to influence interior design and, to a lesser extent, fashion over the years.

For the full description of each, see 2025 Color Trends on LEEP Calendar

1) Veranda: COSMIC COBALT

2) Behr: RUMORS

3) C2: RAKU

4) Sherwin-Williams/Valspar: ENCORE 8002-45G

5) Minwax: VIOLET

6) Dutch Boy: MAPPED BLUE

7) Stainmaster: TRUFFLE

8) Little Green: MOCHI

9) Rust-Oleaum: GLOSS BURGUNDY, EARTHY GREEN, SMOKEY BEIGE, WARM CARAMEL

10) Graham and Brown: RIVERTON FOLLY

11) Krylon: HAMMERED BLACK

12) Glidden: PURPLE BASIL

13) Dunn-Edwards: CARMALIZED

14) Coloro: FUTURE DUSK

15) HGTV-Sherwin Williams: QUIETUDE

16) Dulux: TRUE JOY

17) Benjamin Moore: CINNAMON SLATE 2113-4

__________________________

I'm waiting for the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year for 2025, which will occur on December 4th. Once that is made public, Part Two of the 2025 Themed Years will be published. You can subscribe to receive it in your inbox right away. Oh, and I love comments. Please leave one if you like!

See you in about ten days. Thank you for the gift of your time!

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Last updated: Nov 27th 2024