Lunar New Year games are a fantastic way to bring family and friends together during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Whether you're looking for a fun way to teach kids about Chinese traditions or planning a festive gathering, incorporating themed activities is the perfect opportunity to celebrate this vibrant holiday. These Lunar New Year activities are perfect for exploring the holiday’s rich culture while creating lasting memories with your family and kids. 1. Craft Chinese New Year Couplets (Chunlian) Chinese New Year couplets are poetic phrases traditionally written on red paper and hung around doorways to invite good luck and prosperity. Chinese New Year begins with a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve that gathers family from far and wide, much in the same way Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. During the two weeks of celebration that follow, the feasting continues as friends and family share good tidings for the year ahead. 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. Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. Family ties are central to Chinese New Year traditions. The most important celebration happens on Chinese New Year’s Eve, when families gather together for a reunion. Traditionally, the family travels to the 老家 (lǎojiā), the old home or ancestral home, to celebrate with paternal grandparents. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year on China's traditional lunisolar calendar. It is a time for family gatherings. It is the most important festival in China (where it is known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival), and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea (where it is known as Seollal), in Vietnam (as Tet), as well as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries Most major cities have their own unique take on celebrating the Chinese New Year, and have public performances or fairs, up to and including during the Lantern Festival (Chinese New Year day 15). These include lion dances, dragon dances, ceremonial folk shows, and religious worship. These fairs are fun for the whole family and are a great place During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year in many Asian countries. It's a fabulous 15-day celebration filled with fireworks, special food dishes, and parades. In the United States, Lunar Chinese New Year in 2025 starts on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and lasts until the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. The Year of the Snake starts on January 28, 2025, marking one of the most vibrant Chinese celebrations around the world.China will come alive with red lanterns, firecrackers, and joyous family gatherings, but Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is far more than just a colorful spectacle. Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is celebrated with much fanfare around the world, marking a time of renewal, family reunions, and vibrant cultural expressions. But nowhere is this celebration quite as unique as in the Philippines, where Chinese traditions intertwine with Filipino customs to create a truly Navy Pier Indoor Lunar New Year Celebration. 1-5 p.m. Feb. 1 . Navy Pier, 840 E. Grand Ave. Navy Pier hosts Chicago’s largest indoor Lunar New Year celebration, drawing over 4,000 families for the Spring Festival traditions. The Year of the Snake celebration features more than 15 performances and eight vendors during the four-hour event. Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on January 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. Celebrations last up to 16 days; the Chinese public holiday lasts from Wednesday to Feb. 4. What is the Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations. Chinatown is the heart of Singapore’s Chinese New Year celebrations. The Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival runs from mid-January to early February and includes a vibrant street bazaar with vendors selling everything from traditional snacks to red lanterns, jewelry, and souvenirs. There are also In China, Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions and cultural festivities. The celebrations begin on New Year's Eve with a grand reunion dinner, where families gather to enjoy lavish meals Kroger Lunar New Year Celebration. food sampling and family activities. The first 100 guests will receive a Lunar New Year gift bag. Chinese New Year and Silk Road Festival. Here are seven poems to help you celebrate the Chinese New Year with words that resonate. “The Year” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem “The Year” reflects on the cyclical nature of time, an important theme in Lunar New Year celebrations, which center the beginning of a new temporal cycle. The culinary delights that accompany this festive season are more than just food; they are symbols of luck, prosperity, and togetherness. By exploring and trying out these 50+ Chinese New Year recipes, you not only embrace the rich cultural heritage of China but also create an opportunity to share meaningful moments with your loved ones.
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