10 Simple Lunar New Year Activities

After adopting our son (born in China), we have been learning more about Chinese culture and incorporating some of their traditions into our home. In China and other Asian countries, the Lunar new year is the most important holiday of the year.

Chinese or Lunar New Year is a two-week celebration full of lots of fun activities for family members culminating at the end with the Chinese Lantern Festival. In 2023, the Chinese New Year, or the more inclusive term, Lunar new year, begins the Chinese Lunar Calendar. In 2023, that is Sunday, January 22 and it’s the year of the rabbit.

Since it’s the most important festival in Asian cultures and it’s right around the corner, I thought I would share with you the 10 simple Lunar New Year activities to incorporate into your lunar new year celebration this year. Happy Lunar New Year!

1. Family Dinner

Many families in Asian cultures travel to be together during the Chinese New Year much like Thanksgiving or Christmas in the United States. They have a large reunion dinner together. Since our family is not nearby we have opted to invite friends over for takeout Chinese food.

2. Eat Noodles and Dumplings

During the lunar new year, people enjoy special food. Traditional food has great meaning to the Chinese people, especially during the Chinese New Year. Noodles symbolize long life and dumplings symbolize wealth, reunion, and harmony. Symbolism is important to many in Asian culture and they believe eating these foods will bring them good fortune in the coming year.

We actually took a dumpling-making class while we were in Beijing. Our guide hid a hard lemon candy in one while we were making them. The person that found it won a prize! It was a lot of fun and could be a simple idea to incorporate this time of year.

3. Clean the House

Cleaning the house is an important part of the Chinese New Year as they sweep away bad luck and usher in the new year with a clean and fresh start. I am pretty sure my kids think I made this one up because I am extra excited to incorporate this into our celebration. When the new year rolls around, I think it’s a wonderful way to usher in the new year.

4. Gift Red Packet with Gold Coins

Adults often give red envelopes to children full of money as part of their Chinese new year traditions. We fill our red envelopes with gold coin chocolates and gift them to our neighbors and friends as a way to celebrate! You can find the red envelopes here and the gold coin chocolates here. Last year, I shared this tradition with Quincy’s preschool classmates and attached an explanation as a way to honor his birth culture.

Wrapping the money in a red envelope symbolizes good wishes, happiness, and blessing to the recipient.

5. Read Chinese New Year Books

Since the Chinese New Year is unfamiliar to many in the United States we bought a few books explaining the tradition and will read them as part of our dinner celebration. I also like to ask Quincy’s teachers if I can come in and read a book to the class along with distributing the red packets as a fun way to celebrate the new year.

6. Decorate with Red and Gold

The color red is very important to the Chinese, it’s considered a lucky color. Not only is it the color of the flag but the color red symbolizes wealth and happiness. They also put up banners around their doors to welcome new guests and keep Nian the monster away. Find the Chinese New Year banner here.

7. Make Paper Lanterns

Ornate hanging lanterns have been used for both light and worship for centuries in China. You can make a simple hanging lantern as a fun Chinese new year craft. Start by folding a piece of red paper in half and cutting it not quite to the edge. Then open and fold into a circle and staple closed. Finish by affixing a paper strip with a staple to create a handle to hang. Hang the Chinese lanterns as decor during your Chinese new year celebration.

8. Figure Out What Chinese Zodiac Animal You Are

Each Chinese Year is named after different Chinese Zodiac Animals. The Zodiac is on a 12-year cycle. 2023 is the year of the rabbit. You can find your zodiac animal here.

9. Drink Hot Tea

Drinking hot tea is a daily activity for the Chinese people, they believe it helps with their overall health and hygiene. Unlike Americans, they drink loose-leaf tea. First, they rinse the tea leaves with hot water and then they steep the tea. Check out the app Mighty Timer to learn how to steep all different kinds of teas.

Different teas are drunk in different cultures or regions of China. When we were in China, we learned tea from Quincy’s province is actually refrigerated so we couldn’t bring any home. Drinking tea would be a simple Chinese new year activity to try.

10. Set Off Firecrackers or Noise Makers

The Chinese also set off lots of firecrackers and fireworks during this time of the year so if you are feeling adventurous you could do the same. The noise they believe scares away evil spirits. In lieu, of firecrackers, you could make your own fireworks noises with noise makers for your new year celebrations.

Why is the Chinese New Year so Important?

Lunar New Year is a time for the Chinese and other cultures to honor family and the deities they worship. It’s the biggest holiday of the year and many government entities are closed for the duration of the holiday.

We are excited to incorporate some of these traditions into our home and honor our son’s birth heritage. Whether that’s with Chinese new year crafts, reading books, or trying some Chinese cuisine. May you enjoy some Chinese new year activities. It’s a great way to explore our son’s birth culture and expand our children’s worldview. How do you celebrate the Chinese New Year in your home?

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