Lunar New Year is a time for families to come together, celebrate traditions, and welcome prosperity for the year ahead. This guide is filled with Lunar New Year activities that your family can enjoy, including crafts, delicious recipes, and cultural stories. Whether you’re looking for engaging Chinese New Year activities for kids or meaningful traditions to share, there’s something for everyone.
Understanding the Significance of the Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is an ancient festival with origins dating back over 3,500 years to the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD). Initially, it was a modest observance centered around burning bamboo to ward off evil spirits. Over the centuries, the celebration grew, incorporating traditions like family gatherings, festive meals, and vibrant displays of lanterns and dragon dances.
The holiday is based on the lunar calendar, with its date shifting yearly. In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on February 10, marking the Year of the Snake.
The Role of the Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac is an integral part of Lunar New Year celebrations. It’s a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal that reflects specific personality traits. Here’s a quick overview of the zodiac animals and their meanings:
- Rat: Intelligent, adaptable, charming
- Ox: Strong, methodical, dependable
- Tiger: Confident, passionate, courageous
- Rabbit: Gentle, creative, compassionate
- Dragon: Ambitious, charismatic, visionary
- Snake: Wise, introspective, intuitive
- Horse: Sociable, adventurous, free-spirited
- Goat (or Sheep): Empathetic, nurturing, harmonious
- Monkey: Clever, curious, innovative
- Rooster: Observant, precise, hardworking
- Dog: Loyal, protective, honest
- Pig: Generous, easygoing, sincere
Preparing Your Home for the Festivities
If you want to celebrate the Lunar New Year, be prepared for a bit of work—housework, more specifically. There’s a lot that goes into getting a home ready for the festivities. Here’s how you can ring in the Lunar New Year with your family:
Spring Cleaning and Its Symbolism
In the days leading up to Lunar New Year, families traditionally deep-clean their homes. This ritual symbolizes clearing out bad luck and negativity to make room for good fortune. Encourage your children to help, making it a fun family activity that fosters a sense of renewal.
Decorating with Red and Gold
Red and gold are essential colors for Lunar New Year activities and celebrations, symbolizing happiness, prosperity, and good luck. Decorate your home with:
- Red couplets (Chunlian) featuring positive wishes
- Lanterns and paper cuttings
- Symbols of abundance, like oranges and gold ingots
10 Lunar New Year Activities for Families and Kids
Lunar New Year is celebrated with vibrant traditions and meaningful customs that bring families together. These Lunar New Year activities are perfect for exploring the holiday’s rich culture while creating lasting memories with your family and kids.
1. Craft Chinese New Year Couplets (Chunlian)
Chinese New Year couplets are poetic phrases traditionally written on red paper and hung around doorways to invite good luck and prosperity.
- Supplies needed: Red paper, black or gold ink pens or paintbrushes.
- What to do: Write auspicious phrases such as “Wishing you good health and success” in Chinese characters or translate meaningful family wishes. If writing in Chinese feels challenging, you can print templates or create your own designs with decorative elements like gold flourishes or auspicious symbols.
- Where to display: Hang them around doorframes or in common areas of your home to create a festive atmosphere.
2. Make Dumplings Together
Dumplings (jiaozi) are a Lunar New Year staple, symbolizing wealth and family unity.
- Supplies needed: Dumpling wrappers, fillings (ground meat, chopped vegetables, or tofu), and dipping sauces.
- What to do: Set up a dumpling-making station and teach each other folding techniques—crescent shapes or pleated edges are traditional. While preparing this delicious dish, share stories or talk about hopes for the year.
- Fun family tip: Add a coin or small surprise to one dumpling. The person who finds it is said to have extra good luck for the year!
3. Design and Craft DIY Chinese Paper Dragons
Paper dragon crafts are classic Chinese New Year activities for kids. The dragon is a symbol of power, protection, and good fortune, making this craft both fun and meaningful.
- Supplies needed: Red, yellow, and gold paper; scissors; glue or tape; popsicle sticks; markers or crayons.
- What to do: Cut strips of paper for the dragon’s body and connect them in accordion style. Decorate the head with bold colors and attach whiskers using string or pipe cleaners.
- How to use: Attach popsicle sticks to make it interactive and let children “dance” their dragons in a homemade parade!
4. Exchange Handmade Red Envelopes (Hongbao)
Red envelopes symbolize blessings, prosperity, and good wishes. Exchanging them is a heartwarming tradition.
- Supplies needed: Red paper, scissors, glue, markers, and money or handwritten notes.
- What to do: Fold red paper into envelopes, secure with glue or tape, and decorate with symbols like gold coins, zodiac animals, or lanterns. Fill them with money (even amounts are considered lucky) or thoughtful handwritten blessings.
- When to exchange: Share them during your New Year’s meal or celebration.
5. Make Tangyuan (Sweet Rice Balls)
Tangyuan is another food that’s commonly enjoyed during Lunar New Year celebrations. These round, tender rice balls are often filled with delicious ingredients like sesame paste, red bean paste, or peanut butter to give them an extra pop of flavor. Tangyuan are served in sweet soup and symbolize family unity.
- Supplies needed: Glutinous rice flour, sugar, and fillings like sesame paste or peanut butter.
- What to do: Mix rice flour with water to form a dough, then shape it into small balls. Add fillings, boil the tangyuan until they float, and serve them in sweetened ginger syrup.
- How to make it fun: Involve everyone in shaping the dough and coming up with creative filling ideas!
6. Host a Lantern-Making Workshop
Lanterns represent hope, light, and a bright future, making them a meaningful craft for Lunar New Year.
- Supplies needed: Colorful paper, scissors, glue, string, and optional LED candles.
- What to do: Fold and cut the paper into lantern shapes, glue the edges together, and add decorative elements like tassels or gold accents. For an extra glow, insert a battery-powered LED candle.
- Where to display: Hang the lanterns in windows, on porches, or string them together for a festive look.
7. Watch a Lunar New Year Lion Dance Performance
Watching a lion dance is a thrilling and entertaining way to participate in Lunar New Year activities. You can find a local performance or watch a video on YouTube with your kids. The lion dance is a vibrant tradition meant to drive away bad spirits and bring good luck.
- What to do: Search for local Lunar New Year celebrations where lion dances might be performed. These are often part of parades or cultural events.
- Alternative: If attending a live event isn’t possible, watch videos online. Share the experience with your family and talk about the significance of this tradition.
8. Write and Share New Year Wishes
The Wishing Tree tradition has been practiced in China since the 18th century, so it’s a great way to embrace the culture and express hopes for the year ahead.
- Supplies needed: Red paper, string, a hole punch, and a small tree or potted plant.
- What to do: Have each family member write down their wishes or goals on red paper. Use a hole punch and string to hang the wishes on the tree’s branches.
- How to make it special: Reflect on each wish as you hang it, and revisit them as a family at the end of the year to see what came true.
9. Learn a Traditional Chinese Folk Dance
Learning a traditional dance is a lively way to experience the culture and embrace the festive spirit.
- What to do: Explore dances like the Yingge dance, known for its bold costumes and rhythmic movements. Watch videos online or follow step-by-step guides to try the dance at home.
- Make it fun: Wear colorful outfits and create simple props to add authenticity to your performance.
10. Watch a Lunar New Year Movie or Read Stories
Stories and films offer an engaging way to learn about Lunar New Year traditions.
- What to do: Choose family-friendly movies like The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven or The Farewell to explore Chinese values and culture. Alternatively, read stories about the legend of Nian or the Chinese zodiac.
- How to make it interactive: Discuss the themes and traditions depicted, encouraging children to share their thoughts or create artwork inspired by what they’ve learned.
Celebrate Lunar New Year With Your Au Pair
Lunar New Year is a wonderful opportunity to explore meaningful traditions, try festive activities, and strengthen your connection with your Au Pair from China or anywhere else in the world. Through shared experiences like crafting decorations, preparing traditional foods, and learning cultural stories, your family can gain a deeper appreciation for the holiday and its significance.
By celebrating together, you create a welcoming environment that shows respect for your Au Pair’s heritage while teaching your children about cultural diversity. These moments of learning, laughter, and connection will leave a lasting impression on everyone involved.
Ready to start your cultural exchange journey? Find your perfect Au Pair today and begin creating memories that will enrich your family for years to come.
