Lunar New Year is the biggest festival that welcomes a new year based on the lunar calendar. While 1.4 billion people celebrate it in China, it’s also becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Are you looking for ideas to celebrate Lunar New Year? Here are 10 creative, family-friendly ideas:

If you have a curious mind, explore how the festival is celebrated in China and around you.

If you enjoy hands-on activities, make Lunar New Year–themed decorations and crafts.

If you’re a food lover, cook and taste festive foods together.

If you have a foundation in Mandarin, play language games and music activities to practise while having fun.

1. Explore how Lunar New Year is celebrated within China

Lunar New Year usually falls in January or February, with the exact date varying each year based on the Chinese lunar calendar. In China, the celebrations often last for about two weeks. Across this vast country, many families share similar traditions—such as having a reunion dinner（吃年夜饭chī nián yèfàn）, watching the Spring Festival Gala（看春晚kàn chūnwǎn）, and offering new year blessings to family and friends (拜年bàinián) while children red envelopes （发红包fā hóngbāo）.

At the same time, China is incredibly diverse. Different regions have their own unique foods and rituals for welcoming the new year. Here are a couple of fun examples:

• In Northeast China, people may visit ice festivals (冰雪大世界 bīngxuě dà shìjiè)， and enjoy winter treats like frozen pears (冻梨 dòng lí) or frozen persimmons (冻柿子 dòng shì zi) . Most families will make dumpling while some prepare homemade Chinese cured pork—larou (做腊肉 zuò là ròu)—during the holiday.
• In North China, some families pay tribute to the Kitchen God (祭灶神 jì zào shén) and make edible flour “lantern” lamps (捏面油灯 niē miàn yóu dēng).
• In Northwest China Lunar New Year celebrations can be wonderfully bold and energetic—people might dance the yangge (扭秧歌 niǔ yāng gē) or even jump over a bonfire (跳火堆 tiào huǒ duī) as part of the festivities. In Shaanxi Province, Shehuo gatherings (社火集 shè huǒ jí) are a big community celebration—almost like a “Chinese cosplay parade.” People dress up in traditional opera or historical costumes and take part in lively street parades.
• In Central China, temple fairs (庙会 miào huì) are a popular public event. Originally linked to temple worship, temple fairs today feel more like a festive market gathering (Think of it as a Christmas market—but for Lunar New Year.). During temple fairs, you might see stilt-walking (踩高跷 cǎi gāo qiāo), sugar-figure blowing (吹糖人 chuī táng rén), dragon dances (舞龙 wǔ lóng), sugar painting (糖画 táng huà), and even molten iron fireworks (打铁花 dǎ tiě huā).
• In East China families often make rice cake (年糕 nián gāo) and sweet rice dumplings (圆子 yuán zi)—both seen as symbols of good luck and sweetness for the year ahead. Some places also organise traditional local opera performances called 社戏 (shè xì) which literally means community drama. Some of these performances take place on the water—how cool is that?
• In South China, people often come out to watch or perform dragon and lion dances (舞龙wǔ lóng) and (舞狮 wǔ shī). Because the weather is usually much warmer than in northern China, flower markets (花市 huā shì)—are also especially popular.
• Southwest China is known for its rich ethnic and cultural diversity. Around the Lunar New Year season, some communities also celebrate lively local festivals—such as the Torch Festival (火把节 huǒ bǎ jié), the Water-Splashing Festival (泼水节 pō shuǐ jié), and even the humorous “Vegetable-Stealing Festival” (偷菜节 tōu cài jié).

2. Explore Lunar New Year activities around you

Lunar New Year is celebrated around the world, thanks to Chinese-speaking communities across the globe. There’s a good chance your local area is hosting events or activities around the festival.

Try searching for something nearby—such as your local Chinatown, a Chinese cultural association, a community centre, or a museum. You might find parades, craft workshops, lion dances, food markets, or family-friendly cultural days that are perfect for young learners.

3. Make your own red pocket

Kids LOVE hóngbāo—red envelopes—during Lunar New Year! Grown-ups put money inside and give them to children (and in some places, to unmarried grown-ups too). These days, people can also send digital hóngbāo on their phones. But a real red envelope feels special —you can put in money and even write a sweet New Year message. Here is how you can make your own red pocket.

4. Make a zodiac lantern

Each Lunar New Year is linked to a Chinese zodiac animal—so which one are you? Take some time to make a zodiac animal lantern and light it up with a small LED candle so it can glow safely.

You can also turn this into a fun family activity: ask your family or friends what year they were born, then help them find their zodiac signs. Use the lantern template (or join our online craft class) to create your own shining zodiac lantern.

5. Make an edible lamp

In parts of Central China, some families make homemade edible “oil lamps” to celebrate. They light the lamps to brighten the home—and then eat them! What a delicious way to welcome the New Year. You can make your own using flour dough:

1. Shape the dough into little lamp designs (any shape you like).
2. Steam them for about 20 minutes.
3. Once cooled slightly, add a little sesame oil and insert a small cotton wick. (use LED light as a safer alternative)

And there you have it—your very own edible lamp!

6. Make paper window decoration

Chuanghua (窗花) can be literally translated as “window flowers.” They’re simple to make—just red paper, a pen, and scissors—but instantly add a festive atmosphere to your home. You can think of it as a Chinese-style paper art activity, like origami but focused on using cutting to create flower patterns. Children usually love creating different patterns and then decorating the windows with their beautiful paper-cut “flowers.”

7. Make a Kitchen God

In some parts of China, families keep an ancient tradition—worshipping the Kitchen God—with roots that go back thousands of years. The Kitchen God is believed to watch over the household and report what happens in the home to the gods in heaven. That’s why, in some families, people place a little honey (or something sweet) on the Kitchen God’s mouth—hoping he will “say sweet words” and bring good news, so the family receives blessings in the new year. Take a look at the Chinese Kitchen God and create a Kitchen God of your own household.

8. Taste Chinese food

For food lovers, one of the best ways to experience Lunar New Year is through taste. Try some classic Chinese dishes like dumplings, spring rolls, and noodles. If you’re feeling adventurous, visit your local Asian grocery store to pick up a few ingredients and try making these dishes in your own kitchen.

9. Play Chinese music

Want some music for the season? Lunar New Year music is upbeat, energetic, and full of cheer—perfect for setting a festive mood at home. Here are two curated lists: a Song Playlist and an Orchestral Performance List.

10. Play Mandarin language games

Are you or your children learning Mandarin right now? Would you like to practice how to say the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in Chinese? These activities help you speak, read, draw, and finally write the Chinese zodiac animal vocabulary in Mandarin! Play the games and try the challenges with your family and friends. Have fun learning and exploring!

You don’t need to be Chinese or live in China to celebrate Lunar New Year. We hope this blog—through its introductions and activity ideas—opens the door to your engagement with Chinese traditions, values, and culture, while helping you create joyful memories together.

Source of images:

1. Red pocket: https://mbd.baidu.com/newspage/data/dtlandingsuper?nid=dt_4176238444886555177

2. Reunion dinner: https://www.douyin.com/note/7466677200318745915

3. New Year Gala: http://www.douyin.com/note/7334210823788743945

4. Yang Ge: https://sucai.redocn.com/11883947.html

5. Window flower: http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1822722064880966276&wfr=spider&for=pc

6. Ice Festival: https://news.sohu.com/a/751794344_100908

7. Make Larou: http://616pic.com/sucai/1kxi8p80j.html

8. Edible lamp: http://xhslink.com/o/8F9HYYJQXg

9. Shehuo gatherings: http://xhslink.com/o/7Royy1H2Auw

10. Vegetable stealing festival: http://mbd.baidu.com/newspage/data/dtlandingsuper?nid=dt_4769118226030466626