People from different Chinese countries and cultures celebrate Chinese New Year. It follows the lunar calendar.
You can do many fun things to celebrate. Here are 20 activities that'll keep you happy and honored throughout the holiday!
1. Eat Fun Chinese Food And Drinks At Home Or In Restaurants
Dumplings, shrimp crackers, bubble tea, and much more!
2. Read Out Your Fortune Cookie Fortune To Your Family!
The funnest part of the meal is discovering your fortune from a fortune cookie.
3. Listen To Chinese Songs
They can be traditional or modern. They can be in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, or other Chinese dialects.
4. Watch Happy, Funny, Or Sentimental Chinese Movies, TV Shows, Commercials, Or Performances
Happy and funny Chinese movies, TV shows, commercials, or operas will keep you in good spirits throughout the Chinese New Year. Sentimental ones, on the other hand, will help you embrace the importance of family.
5. Spend Time With Family And Relatives
The main theme of the Chinese New Year is family. Embrace this by setting up a meeting, gathering, or party!
6. Explore Chinatown
You can go see a Chinese New Year parade. It has good performances. There are also some good places to visit in Chinatown as well.
7. Explore Chinese Countries
Take a trip to China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the destination possibilities are endless!
8. Get Some Red Packages or Hóng Bāo (红包)
"A 5 letter word for happiness: MONEY." –Mr. Krabs from the TV show, "SpongeBob Squarepants."
9. Put The Red Package or Hóng Bāo (红包) Underneath Your Pillow While Sleeping
This will give you good luck and sweet dreams.
10. Talk, Hear, Read, And Write Words With A Chinese Dialect
Communication matters most during the holidays!
11. The Person That Is Born In The Year of _______ Must Be The First One To Say, "Happy Chinese New Year!"
This year is the year of the rat. Anyone born in the year of the rat must be the first one to say "Happy Chinese New Year!" Everyone else will have to do it when it is their year. This must be done to bring good luck to the family.
12. Play A Game Relating To The Year Of The ____
Since this Chinese New Year is the year of the rat, you should play a game that has to do with rats.
For example, pin the tail on the rat. Put a blindfold on the person that is born in the year of the rat. Have them put a tail or string on a picture of a rat. You can do other creative games for the year of the rat as well!
13. Cleanup The House
Make the house look nice and clean to start Chinese New Year fresh and clean!
14. Tell Happy, Funny, And Sentimental Chinese Stories Or Legends!
Similar idea to the Chinese songs and Chinese movies activities listed above.
15. Set Off Firecrackers, Fireworks, Or Watch A Show
Firecrackers and fireworks can scare away evil spirits and are fun to use. You can use them outside of your house or somewhere else that is nice and peaceful. You do not want to disturb, annoy, and scare other people, though. You can also watch people using fireworks or firecrackers in real life or on TV.
16. Make A Wish, Resolution, And Prayer At Home Or At A Temple
Every new year, people make wishes, resolutions, and prayers.
17. Recall What You Have Done Before The Chinese New Year
Think back on everything that you did before the Chinese New Year. You can also recall what you did last time during Chinese New Year.
18. Wear Chinese Clothing
Try Chinese silk, Hanfu, Mao suit, Tang suit, qipao, and more!
19. Buy Some Nice Chinese Objects
Pottery, jewelry, kitchenware, ...
20. Most Importantly, Have Fun And Be Happy!
Enjoy the holiday!