Dragons, Dances, and Dumplings: Festivals You’ll Love
Festivals are a big part of Cantonese culture and they’re full of fun! Kids who are learning Cantonese can also discover how families celebrate special days with food, music, and amazing traditions.
Lunar New Year (農曆新年)
This is the biggest holiday of the year in Cantonese-speaking places like Hong Kong and Guangdong. It’s also called “Spring Festival.”
Families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and decorate with red banners and lanterns. Kids get lai see (red envelopes with money) and enjoy fireworks, lion dances, and sweet treats!
Key Cantonese words:
- Gung hei fat choy (恭喜發財) – “Wishing you prosperity”
- Nin nin yau yu (年年有餘) – “May you have abundance every year”
Dragon Boat Festival (端午節)
Held in summer, this festival honors a poet named Qu Yuan. People race long boats shaped like dragons and eat joong (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves).
It’s noisy, exciting, and full of tradition!
Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節)
This celebration is about the full moon, family reunions, and yummy mooncakes. Kids carry lanterns at night and hear the story of Chang’e, the moon goddess.
Dinolingo’s Cantonese course helps kids aged 2–14 learn about festivals through themed songs, videos, and games. They can hear real Cantonese phrases used during celebrations and even try festive crafts offline.
The program is available on web, iOS, and Android, and includes printable worksheets for fun beyond the screen.
Creative Activities to Try
Red Envelope Craft
Make your own lai see using red paper. Write “Gung hei fat choy” in Chinese characters and add coins or stickers inside.
Dumpling Pretend Play
Make pretend joong with playdough and paper leaves. Talk about what ingredients go inside as you “cook” together!
Festivals are a joyful way for kids to connect with Cantonese culture—through food, fun, and language.
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