Lunar New Year Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries. It marks the start of the Lunar Calendar, often at the end of January or early February. Each country has its own way of celebrating.
Shared Traditions Family Reunions: People usually get together with their families to celebrate the holiday.
Traditional Foods: Foods that are eaten are thought to bring good luck, prosperity (money), and happiness. Some include dumplings, fish, rice cakes, and sweet treats.
Red & Decorations: The color red and festive decorations are popular during Lunar New Year. Red symbolizes good luck and happiness. People decorate with red lanterns, banners, and other festive ornaments.
Unique Traditions Lion & Dragon Dances: Dancers who work together to move a large dragon puppet that is thought to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
CHINA
Red Envelopes (Hongbao): Children, unmarried relatives, and friends receive red envelopes stuffed with money as a gesture of good luck and blessings for the new year.
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Osechi Ryori: Special dishes called "osechi ryori" are beautifully arranged boxes filled with foods that represent prosperity, good health, and happiness.
Hatsumode: People visit Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for the first JAPAN time of the year to pray for good fortune, health, and happiness in the coming year.
Seollal Customs: Children receive blessings and money in special pouches called "sebaetdon." Families also have a feast of traditional foods like "tteokguk," a rice cake soup that symbolizes aging one year older.
Jesa Ancestral Rituals:
KOREA
Families set up a ceremonial table with food and offerings to honor their ancestors. They ask for their protection and blessings for the family's future.
Tet Nguyen Dan: People make and share "banh chung,” thick rice cakes filled with mung beans and pork, wrapped in banana leaves. The cakes symbolize prosperity and family unity.
Lucky Plants and Flowers: Houses are decorated with plants and flowers, such as peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and chrysanthemums. Each plant is believed to bring good fortune and happiness for the year.
VIETNAM
Celebrate at Home! Follow these steps to create your own Lunar New Year celebration at home!
Step 1: Decorate
Happy New Year Banner
Paper Lanterns Scan the QR code below for a step-by-step video on how to craft your own paper lantern decoration. You will need: Piece of paper Scissors Glue or tape Stickers and coloring supplies to decorate
Create a Happy New Year banner out of red paper circles and some string. Choose symbols that show what you hope the new year will bring you! You will need: Red paper Scissors Marker Hole Puncher String
Directions: 1. Trace and cut a circle. 2. Choose a symbol and draw it onto the circle. 3. Punch a hole at the top of the circle. 4. Repeat until you have each of the symbols you want to include. 5. Connect the circles with string and hang up your banner!
Step 2: Prepare the Feast Pork Gyoza (Chinese Dumplings) Scan the QR code to view a recipe for pork gyoza, a traditional Chinese dish.
Korean Honey Cookies
Steamed Noodles & Green Beans
Scan the QR code to view a recipe for honey cookies, a popular Korean dessert.
Scan the QR code to view a recipe for steamed noodles and green beans, another traditional Chinese dish.
Step 3: Celebrate!
Chinese Tangrams
Have a Parade
1) Print the next page, color the tangram square, then cut the square out. 2) Cut on the lines to make 7 small shapes. 3) Exercise your brain by moving these shapes around to create different designs!
1) Print the next page, color the dragon parts, then cut them out. 2) Use streamers or strips of paper to create the body of your dragon. 3) Attach straws to each end, then start a parade to celebrate the Year of the Dragon!
Find Your Zodiac Sign Each year a new animal is celebrated for the New Year! This year is the Year of the Dragon. What animal was celebrated the year you were born?
Print-Outs
Chinese Tangrams
Print this page to complete some of the activties include in this guide.
Dragon Parade Puppet
Thinking About Traditions Lunar New Year is all about family values and traditions! Spend some time with your family thinking about the family values and traditions you share.
Ask: Most Lunar New Year traditions have to do with bringing good luck, prosperity, and health into the new year. How are these values similar to your own?
Do: Get together with your family and talk about some of your family values and traditions. What are some of your favorites? What are some of your least favorites? What is a new tradition you can create together that allows you to spend time together and practice the values you discussed?
Reflect: How did it feel to talk with your family about your values and traditions? How can coming up with a new tradition help you maintain the values you agreed on?
Year of the Dragon
Lunar New Year Word Search