Celebrate the Year of the Dragon: Family Fun and Traditions for Lunar New Year 2024

Get ready to unleash the dragon, because Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and it's time to ring in the Year of the Dragon with your little ones. This year, the party kicks off on Saturday, February 10. In China, the celebration spans fifteen days, culminating with the dazzling Spring Lantern Festival.

Whether you call it Chinese New Year, Seollal, Songkran, or Tết, this celebration unites nearly 2 billion people across the globe in one big, joyous occasion filled with good vibes, delicious bites, and family! Curious how to get your little ones in on the Lunar New Year festivities? Read on for some awesome ideas to make this a fun family affair no matter where in the world you're celebrating.

Dive into Tradition with Story Time

Whether your family is steeped in ancestral knowledge, or you’re looking to learn more about traditions dating back some 3,500 years, every child loves a good story! Gather your little ones around with these favorites.

• Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin presents all the popular traditions observed by Chinese at new year for the youngest children in this brightly colored board book. Read Aloud by Happy Cultivated
• Ruby's Chinese New Year is a beautifully illustrated tale crafted by Vickie Lee and Joey Chou. Join little Ruby as she sets off on an enchanting journey to Grandma's house, accompanied by a lively crew of Chinese Zodiac animals. Read Aloud by Clever Brains
  
• Our Lunar New Year by Yobe Qiu offers a glimpse of how diverse communities, spanning China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and India, embrace and honor their unique lunar New Year traditions. It's worth noting that India follows a distinct lunar calendar, which is why Diwali, the vibrant festival of lights, is celebrated at a different time.
  Read Aloud by CSUF Future Titans Read
• The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang and brought to life by the gorgeous illustrations of Alina Chau is a delicious story of one clever young girl's encounter with a legendary monster who wants to crash the party.
  Read Aloud by Reading With PingNut

Feast Mode: Activated

Speaking of delicious traditions, get ready for a New Year's feast! A lucky Lunar New Year dinner is all about dishes with symbolic meanings. Steamed whole fish symbolizes prosperity as the Chinese word for fish (鱼 yú), sounds exactly like the word 余 (yú) for surplus. Shrimp and pork dumplings shaped like old school Chinese gold and silver ingots also represent good fortune. "Longevity noodles" are all about honoring a long and happy life. And for those craving something sweet, 8 treasures rice–symbolizing wealth, yet again–and sticky tang yuan which represent family and reunion are the way to go!

Ordering Chinese takeout for your perfect Chinese New Year celebration might be a tempting idea, but with some pre-planning you should be able to pull off a delicious meal that hits all the traditional notes at home! Preparing your own Chinese New Year treats could save you from the potential dumpling craving disappointment. Just as many Western businesses shut their doors on major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, it's quite possible that Chinese-owned establishments might opt to close up shop for the Lunar New Year. It's their time to bask in the festivities with their nearest and dearest, after all.

Now, don't get me wrong. If your favorite local spot is open for business, by all means, give them your patronage–perhaps toss in a generous tip to honor the occasion. Otherwise, get those aprons ready, and jump on in with this round up of some of our favorite Chinese New Year recipes!

• Air Fryer Potstickers by Everyday Family Cooking: Let's kick things off with something simple. Pop your favorite frozen dumplings into the air fryer at 370℉, and voila—crispy perfection in just under 10-12 minutes! As they sizzle away, take advantage of the time to whip up the perfect dumpling sauce without breaking a sweat. Easy peasy, deliciously breezy!
• Longevity noodles, aka Changshou mian, yi mein, or e-fu noodles, take center stage during new year and birthday bashes. If you're in the mood to show off your kitchen mastery, make your own from scratch. Or, just snag the premade ones at your local Asian grocer and whip up a mouthwatering stir-fried noodle dish using these helpful tips and tricks from The Woks of Life.

• Steamed Whole Fish by the Woks of Life: Dazzle your pals and family with an exquisite steamed whole fish featuring the vibrant flavors of ginger, scallion, and soy. This dish is a must-have at many a Chinese feast, gracing banquet tables and family dinner tables alike.
• Tang Yuan recipe by the Woks of Life: Whipping up your own batch of tang yuan was once a time-consuming and labor-intensive affair that took several DAYS. Fortunately, times have changed, and making these delightful sticky rice dumplings stuffed with luscious black sesame or peanut paste is now much simpler. Of course, if you opt for the store-bought, ready-to-cook versions that effortlessly bob to the surface in boiling water, well, your secret is safe with me.

Red is Totally Your Color

Get you and your little ones dressed to the nines in red, because red is the coolest hue in town during Lunar New Year! Not only is it the color of luck and joy, but it also has a reputation for shooing away those mischievous evil spirits. On top of that, red signifies fresh starts, so why not kick off the year with a wardrobe upgrade?

Bonus for you football fans, you can sport your vibrant red and gold ensemble once more the very next day for this year's Super Bowl LVIII, whether you're cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers, or just hoping to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift.

Let's Get Crafty

Craft time with some Asian flair! For the Year of the Dragon, there's no shortage of dragon crafts to break out with your little artists. Printable templates and guides will help save you time and effort so less time is spent prepping and more time playing! Check out some of these fun ideas to get creative with your kiddos.

• Handprint Dragon Puppets: Get ready to bring dancing dragon puppets to life with just a few simple supplies! Grab some construction paper, tape, popsicle sticks or takeout chopsticks, scissors for cutting out handprints, and don't forget printouts and crayons to add in the finishing touches to your dragon's head, tail, and claws!
• Upcycled Dancing Dragon: If you've been keeping toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and takeout containers for a rainy day, it's your time to shine. Welcome in the Year of the Dragon by transforming these everyday items into a vibrant recycled puppet that adds a splash of color to your festivities!
• DIY Chinese Hand Drums are sure to be a hit. This craft introduces a playful twist on a classic Chinese instrument known as the 拨浪鼓 (bō lang gǔ), or pellet drum. Turning the stick between two hands brings the drum to life. As the two pellets swing back and forth, they create a lively beat by striking the drum heads.
• Easy Paper Fan Craft: Transform your paper folding fans into a creative canvas by practicing words and phrases that your child is currently learning! Incorporate popular Chinese New Year greetings, listed below, which your kids can trace, paint, or color before folding into a simple fan. Alternatively, explore how people convey New Year wishes in various languages for a multicultural twist!

Exchanging Lucky Money and Well Wishes

Every Chinese child's favorite new year's tradition just might be receiving 红包 (hóng bāo). Who doesn't love getting a little extra spending money? According to myth, these little red envelopes filled with 压岁钱 (yā suì qián) were meant to be ‘lucky money to ward off evil spirits.’

But really, it's not just about the money; it's a chance for the kids to practice some Chinese and show respect to their elders. Brushing up on these festive phrases is sure to bring joy to all your friends and family who celebrate.

• 恭喜发财 gōng xǐ fā cái (Cantonese: gung¹ hei² faat³ coi): Wish you prosperity and good fortune.
• 万事如意 wàn shì rú yì (Cantonese: maan⁶ si⁶ jyu⁴ ji): May all your wishes come true and go well.
• 身体健康 shēn tǐ jiàn kāng (Cantonese: san¹ tai² gin⁶ hong): Wish you good health.
• 年年有余 nián nián yǒu yú (Cantonese: nin⁴ nin⁴ jau⁵ jyu): Wishing you surplus and abundance year after year.
• 新年快乐 xīn nián kuài lè (Cantonese: san¹ nin⁴ faai³ lok): Happy New Year!

Now that you're armed with a dragon's share of Lunar New Year fun, we want to hear from you! Let us in on your family's favorite Lunar New Year traditions or holiday treats. I wrote this from my perspective as an American born Chinese, but I know there are rich traditions honored by many other East Asian peoples at Lunar New Year. Let's create a virtual potluck of traditions and celebrations, spreading the Lunar New Year cheer far and wide!