Come and take a virtual tour of Chinese New Year for kids! Learn about the history and symbolism on this virtual field trip and be inspired with ways your family can celebrate the Lunar New Year– perfect for global education at home or for a homeschooling unit.
Table of contents
Note for parents: Before you share with your children, listen to the podcast episode Celebrating Chinese New Year and learn more yourself before embarking on an exploration as a family.
What is the Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in China as well as other Asian countries like Korea, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. There are differences in how each country celebrates but they are all celebrating the same holiday!
Why calling it Lunar New Year matters: https://www.instagram.com/p/CK_wZKHnVD5/
Lunar New Year Traditions in Asia- https://youtu.be/wLrUiyx6OhY
Celebrations in China are a time to spend with family and wishing for the prosperity (success), health, wealth, good fortune, luck, happiness, and longevity (a long life) of them and yourself. It is also an opportunity for a fresh new start, just like in the United States.
Legends
- Read the Legend of the Dragon, Nian, to the family:
- Learn about the myth behind the zodiac calender: https://youtu.be/may2s9j4RLk
Traditions
- In China/Taiwan: 14 day-celebration with 2 weeks off from work/school
- Travel to see family
- Cleaning
- Buy/wear new clothes
- Visit 良家 hometown, parents
- Visiting relatives
- Worship ancestors
- Burn food/fake money to reach ancestors
- Naxiang – light incense sticks
- Watch a video talking about the most common traditions: https://youtu.be/cKoaVYALLVI
- Preparing for Chinese New Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ssHXZ9_qU
- New Year traditions preschool activities https://www.instagram.com/p/CLKdn7vBP58/
- 红包 hong bao Red Envelope: Elderly give money to singles/kids
- Ke you (kowtow)
- Learn about it here: https://youtu.be/5f-SMMeDDbE
- Buy some here: https://amzn.to/39sQXCx
- Or make your own: https://youtu.be/KaWuszQEPik
Celebrations
Highlight of celebrations in China in 2020: https://youtu.be/sDHJhfkQHEI
Chinese New Year parade: https://youtu.be/1cRMRp9-Z08
Lion dance: https://youtu.be/Se2n0cmBefU
Symbols
Chinese New Year symbolism: https://youtu.be/Vv_S4kDNekw
- Red Banners with Spring couplets: 春联: Chūnlián, hanging the couplets expresses people’s delight in the festival and their wishes for a better life in the coming year https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/new-year/spring-festival-couplets.htm
- Wear red clothing- symbolizes luck
- Firecrackers- scare away ghosts
- Red lanterns- give light to people finding their way home
More about these symbols and other common decorations: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/new-year-decoration.htm
Food
The foods video: https://youtu.be/wJ7V75stdvQ
- Tang yuan (dessert): Round symbolizing sticking together forever
- Dumplings: resemble monetary unit yuanbao
- (Taiwan) Dumplings with snow pea leaves and shrimp https://www.instagram.com/p/CLIXHThFL4B/
- Orange and Tangerines: wealth, luck
- Fish: Sounds like the word for prosperity (Yu)
- Noodles: longevity
- How to make a tray of togetherness
Books
- Ruby’s Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee
- buy here: https://amzn.to/3apzBWx
- read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfoOGzSciL8
- The Runaway Wok by Ying Chang Compestein
- buy here: https://amzn.to/3tjBYCR
- read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6EduahxEMY
- Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
- buy here: https://amzn.to/3cyZvtR
- read aloud: https://youtu.be/4tVfPvj_Bog
- Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
- buy here: https://amzn.to/3oH693x
- read aloud: https://youtu.be/bftRVgNwz1A
- This next New Year by Janet S. Wong
- buy now: https://amzn.to/3cyY5PP
- read aloud: https://youtu.be/ANIXJb2gDmc
- The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang
- buy now: https://amzn.to/37kRLIw
- read aloud: https://youtu.be/bb0doQuwzbQ
- companion activities to do: https://andreaywang.com/books/picture-books/the-nian-monster/
Crafts
- Make a Red Ang Pow Flower Fan: https://youtu.be/e6vRDa3OEFA
- Chinese Firecracker craft: https://youtu.be/uWraMoacM9k
- DIY 3D orange craft: https://youtu.be/zzA2_maJn20
- Origami orange: https://youtu.be/6b8lSGUR1yE
- New Year Banner craft: https://youtu.be/eO0h5HrRD0I
- Hanging Chinese firecracker craft: https://youtu.be/aH9pDqn1F2U
- Simple lantern made from a red envelope: https://youtu.be/Zccdw8eN6G0
- Learn about Chinese paper cutting: https://youtu.be/KwtQ-Gyc9bA
- Try making your own: https://youtu.be/Uc2NhyAB9r0
- Make a Chinese rattle drum: https://youtu.be/LnWqeQZXKeU
- Make a paper lantern: https://youtu.be/CbDUcqKBqEs
- DIY Hanging fish decor: https://youtu.be/sudEi-5upFU
- Make an origami ox (cow): https://youtu.be/7IQynpOL88c
- Make a lucky lantern: https://youtu.be/BjekV4hWwK0
- DIY Chinese Dragon Puppet: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CK2BE6bj49K/
- Coloring book and dragon craft https://littleginsengs.com/#subscribe
Ways you can celebrate
- Make dumplings or fried rice with the whole family!
- Chinese food recipes: https://jmichiechinesefood.blogspot.com/
- Try eating with chopsticks!
- Learn some simple Chinese phrases to wish people a happy new year!
- Gōng xí fā cái- Happy New year （Mandarin）
- Gung hay fat choy（Cantonese）
- Nián nián yóu yǔ- Many years of surplus
- 吉祥如意 jíxiáng rúyì Good fortune according to your wishes
- 大吉大利 Dàjí dàlì Lots of luck and profit
- Online Chinese Lessons with Jessica: https://jessicalew22.wixsite.com/tutoring
- Gōng xí fā cái- Happy New year （Mandarin）
- Write some Chinese Characters:
- Find out what each family members’ Chinese zodiac animal is and its characteristics:
- Learn a Traditional Chinese New Year song:
- 恭喜gong xi means : Congratulations! A way to greet each other during New Years.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf0btvROwXQ
- Learn to play Mahjong:
- Google a Mahjong Cheat sheet:
- How to play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpYF-xmNMew
- Authentic Mahjong Online: https://maque.games/room.html
- Listen to music for Chinese New Year: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UUhutgKZS2U0xWnScNrZ7
Lunar New Year Celebrations in Other Countries
Vietnam
Vietnamese traditions https://youtu.be/W4jRLf0__3E
Things not to do during Lunar New Year https://youtu.be/FutTaFTAfgE
DIY Lucky Money Envelope https://youtu.be/GjnoCA7Ukew
3D pop up card for Tet https://youtu.be/HZpFJez6CY8
Common Vietnamese New Year Wishes https://youtu.be/_kMy7DP7-Jc
Foods for Tet (first 7 minutes) https://youtu.be/_kMy7DP7-Jc
Tết Decorations & Street food in Hanoi’s Old Quarter https://youtu.be/cRJmiDK_asM
Korea
Korean traditions (first 3 minutes 56 seconds) https://youtu.be/AOnW8JQD1bM
Rice cake soup (Tteokguk: 떡국) https://youtu.be/plvT0vWBK14
(Better for older kids) DIY Tassel Lucky Charm https://youtu.be/aYYC2gWYnc4
Learn to write “Luck” in Korean https://youtu.be/WHVkiTsBn3g
Printable Lunar New Year envelope https://www.lorrainenam.com/downloads
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