Fireworks and Family: How Chinese People Celebrate New Year
Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year (春节 – chūn jié), is one of the most exciting holidays in China and it’s packed with color, sounds, and family traditions that kids will love to learn about.
A Time for Family and Fun
Chinese New Year is all about being with loved ones. Families travel from near and far to share big meals and celebrate together. Kids look forward to special treats and gifts—especially the red envelopes!
Key words to learn:
- 春节 (chūn jié) – Spring Festival
- 家 (jiā) – Family
- 红包 (hóng bāo) – Red envelope (with lucky money inside)
Boom! Fireworks and Lion Dances
Fireworks light up the sky to scare away bad luck and welcome the new year. On the streets, you might see lion or dragon dances with drums and bright costumes.
Kids love the music, movement, and magic of these traditional performances.
Word to try:
- 烟花 (yān huā) – Fireworks
Yummy Foods and Lucky Sayings
Families enjoy dumplings, noodles, and fish—foods believed to bring good fortune.
You might hear:
- 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) – Happy New Year!
- 年年有余 (nián nián yǒu yú) – Wishing abundance every year
Dinolingo’s Chinese program makes holidays like Lunar New Year come alive for children ages 2–14. Through songs, animated stories, and cultural games, kids learn useful words and phrases while exploring traditions.
The program is available on web, iOS, and Android, with printable crafts and worksheets to keep the celebration going offline.
Creative Activities to Try
Red Envelope Craft
Create red envelopes using red paper and gold markers. Practice writing “红包” and saying the word aloud.
Lion Dance Parade at Home
Use scarves or a cardboard box to make a lion head. Put on music and dance through the house saying “新年快乐!”
With every drumbeat, dumpling, and “ni hao,” kids build memories and Mandarin skills that last beyond the holiday.
Source:
