Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a vibrant and meaningful celebration that brings families together to honor traditions, share delicious food, and welcome a year of good fortune. Even if your family doesn’t typically celebrate Lunar New Year, it’s a wonderful opportunity to explore new cultural experiences and create lasting memories with your kids. Here’s how your family can embrace the holiday and enjoy it together!
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar. It’s celebrated across many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, and others, with traditions varying from region to region. The festivities usually last 15 days and focus on themes like family unity, gratitude, and hope for prosperity and health in the coming year.
The zodiac animal for the year plays a significant role in the celebrations. This year, it’s the Year of the Snake, symbolizing wisdom, intuition, and transformation. Snakes are seen as graceful and mysterious creatures, often associated with adaptability and calm strength.
Bringing Lunar New Year Traditions to Life with Kids
One of the best ways to celebrate Lunar New Year with your family is by immersing yourselves in its colorful and meaningful traditions. Here are a few ideas to make the holiday fun and engaging for kids:
1. Decorate Your Home
Bright red is the signature color of Lunar New Year, symbolizing good luck and happiness. Together with your kids, you can:
- Hang red paper lanterns and banners with traditional greetings.
- Craft paper cutouts or simple decorations featuring the zodiac animal of the year.
- Create a family-friendly “fireworks” display using glitter, craft paper, and glue.
2. Cook Traditional Dishes
Food is at the heart of Lunar New Year celebrations, and cooking together can be a delightful family activity. Some iconic dishes include:
- Dumplings: Symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Let the kids help with folding the dumpling wrappers—even if they’re a bit messy, it’s all part of the fun!
- Noodles: Representing longevity. Serve them long and uncut for extra good fortune.
- Sweet Rice Cakes (Nian Gao): A sticky and sweet treat that signifies rising success.
If cooking feels intimidating, start simple. Our activity book includes two easy-to-follow recipes that even kids can help prepare!
3. Red Envelope Crafting
Red envelopes (hongbao) are a traditional gift symbolizing good luck and prosperity. While they’re usually filled with money, crafting red envelopes can be an enjoyable hands-on activity. Use red paper, markers, and stickers to design envelopes together as a family. You can even write wishes or small notes to put inside for your kids.
Celebrate Together at Local Events
Many cities around the world host Lunar New Year festivals, making it easy to experience the holiday’s magic even if it’s new to your family. For example, in Barcelona, we love attending the annual Lunar New Year festival. The lively parades, traditional performances like lion dances and drumming, and delicious food stalls are always a hit with the kids! Check your local community calendar to see if similar events are happening near you.
Make Learning Fun with Activities
To keep kids engaged and excited about Lunar New Year, incorporating themed activities is a great idea. Crafting, solving puzzles, or even learning a few Lunar New Year greetings in Mandarin or Cantonese can spark curiosity about the holiday. For example, saying “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (“Wishing you prosperity”) is a simple and fun way for kids to join in the festive spirit.
Download Our Lunar New Year Activity Book
Want to make your family’s celebration even more special? Download our Lunar New Year Activity Book, packed with fun, kid-friendly activities like crafts, puzzles, and recipes to help you explore the traditions of this festive holiday. Let’s make learning about Lunar New Year a joyful experience for your family!
