The Lunar New Year (also known as the Chinese New Year, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea) is the most celebrated holiday of the year across many Asian countries. The New Year flushes out the old and welcomes in the new, making space for happiness, wealth, luck and longevity. It’s a time to spend with friends and relatives and stresses the importance of family ties. In the days before the New Year, people begin “spring” cleaning. The old is swept away to clear room for the coming year’s good fortune.
In China, the celebration last for two weeks, during which time people visit one another and exchange gifts. It is a great time for reconciliation. Old grudges are forgiven. The entire celebration culminates on the 15th day in the Lantern Festival.
To help you celebrate the Lunar New Year, here are a ton of fun ideas from a host of different bloggers on crafts, food, children’s books and lessons plans. Short on time? Then don’t miss 10 Things to do for the Chinese New Year to get some quick ideas on how to celebrate.
Crafts for the Lunar New Year
- Easy paper plate dragon craft
- 5 fun Lunar New Year crafts
- 15 Chinese New Year crafts from preschool to elementary from Kid World Citizen
- Easy DIY lanterns with tissue paper and a balloon
- Adorable dragon crowns from 4 Crazy Kings
- Chinese paper craft to learn the character for spring from Miss Panda Chinese
Food for the Lunar New Year
- Make some traditional yuanxiao for dessert.
- How about some fresh Vietnamese spring rolls from the Asian Grandmother’s Cookbook?
Books for the Lunar New Year
- 8 books for the Chinese New Year from InCultureParent
- A comprehensive list of books on the Chinese New Year from Boy Mama Teacher Mama
- 7 books for lunar New Year that includes two books for Tet, the Vietnamese New year from I’m Not the Nanny
- 12 Chinese New Year and culture books from Miss Panda Chinese
What is the Lunar New Year for Kids?
- A lesson plan for Chinese New Year with props and stories from Kid World Citizen.
- And finally How to Teach Chinese New Year at School without stereotypes from HapaMama!
Gung hay fat choy! We hope you enjoy celebrating the Lunar New Year. All this celebration made us hungry, so we’re off to eat some dumplings and find some scallion pancakes.
Photo by john xiao on Unsplash
Originally published in 2014.
What a great resource! Thanks for including my posts – Best wishes in the Year of the Horse!
Great Resources!
[…] you are looking for ways to celebrate at home, InCulture Parent has posted a really useful round-up of craft projects, recipes and books. In our house, two books that are especially popular this year are The Year of the Horse: Tales […]
This is a great collection of ideas for Chinese culture projects from some of my favorite bloggers! Thanks!