8 Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year

The Lunar New Year is celebrated throughout Asia, but in China is one of the most important holidays. This 15 day celebration focuses on family and traditions and we can enjoy the festivities too! This year the celebration starts on Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 15th and culminates on March 2nd with the Spring Lantern Festival and Parade.

1. Start by cleaning your house. Yep, it is good to sweep away the bad luck that has accumulated over the past year and make the house ready for good luck to start entering again.

2. Decorate with red and items in sets of 8. Red is the color of happiness and good luck to the Chinese. The Chinese character for the number eight rhymes with fortune or wealth, so that is also used.

3. Gifts of money are given in red envelopes to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of gratitude.

4. This is a time of honoring and remembering your ancestors and the heritage of where you came from.

5. Prepare a New Year's Eve feast with traditional Chinese dishes before the holiday officially begins at midnight.

6. The Spring Lantern Festival is celebrated on the last day (the 15th day) of the Chinese New Year. Make dumplings filled with a variety of sweet fillings to celebrate the day.

7. Enjoy a Chinese New Year Parade - live or streamed online. It is a beautiful sight at night!

8. At the end of the final day of Chinese New Year, decorative paper lanterns are released and light up the evening sky. Release your own lit lantern!