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A Teacher’s Guide to Chinese New Year Customs and Traditions

Writer's picture: William DaviesWilliam Davies

Updated: Jan 16

While we celebrate the New Year according to the solar calendar in Western countries, things are done differently in East Asia. Although the “conventional” New Year and Solar Calendar is also celebrated in East Asia, the Lunar Calendar cycle plays a much bigger role in its culture. 


Want to know the customs and traditions of Lunar New Year - China’s biggest national holiday? Keep reading to find out its origins, how locals celebrate, and how you can celebrate it and incorporate it into the classroom!

Chinese New Year mural in Zongshan, Guangdong province
Chinese New Year mural in Zongshan, Guangdong province

What is Chinese New Year?

The origins of the Lunar New Year - or Chinese New Year - can be traced back around 4,000 years ago during the Shang Dynasty. While the west typically celebrates the new year according to the solar calendar, the lunar calendar is based on the monthly cycle of the moon (hence its name lunar). 


Shorter than the solar year by 11 days, Chinese New Year is also referred to as the Spring Festival - because the new moon also signifies the beginning of spring and the new crop. In the Shang Dynasty, offerings were made in the form of animals and food to appease the "the God of the Kitchen Stove" to bring good fortunes for the new harvest.


The Lunar New Year is celebrated in many other countries outside of China, particularly Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and others. These countries also follow the Lunar New Year cycle, and some of them celebrate the new year more  than others. Similar to Lunar New Year in China, other Asian countries celebrate by dressing up in red, decorating the streets with lanterns, giving envelopes or “lucky money” and spending their holidays with family members. 


Additionally, western countries with a significant Chinese population will see Chinese New Year customs and traditions being practiced. Cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Texas in the United States are fantastic places to witness and enchanted Chinatown during this special time of year. 


Each Lunar New Year is represented by 1 of 12 zodiac signs or animals. An ancient Chinese poem tells of a story of a race between different animal species, where 12 winners were selected to represent the measurement of time. 


Each animal represents different characteristics and fortunes, with many cultures placing great value on the year in which they were born. While 2024 was the Year of the Dragon, 2025 will be the Year of the Snake


Here are some of the animals and their corresponding years according to the Chinese New Year:


  • 2020 - Rat

  • 2021 - Ox

  • 2022 - Tiger

  • 2023 - Rabbit

  • 2024 - Dragon

  • 2025 - Snake

  • 2026 - Horse

  • 2027 - Sheep/Goat

  • 2028 - Monkey

  • 2029 - Chicken

  • 2030 - Dog


Chinese New Year Customs and Traditions

People across China and many Asian countries celebrate Chinese New Year (or in their case - Lunar New Year) in a number of ways. Here are some of the activities and events in which locals across China and other Asian countries engage in: 


  • Housecleaning: To signify a new year, many locals clean out their house of waste, dust, or debris, which also represents removing bad luck and negativity, essentially creating a clean slate for the new lunar year. 

  • Family reunions: One of the most significant things about Chinese New Year is the family gatherings. The new year brings families together to celebrate either abroad or in their hometown. In fact, there is often a mass exodus in major cities such as Beijing. The Chinese New Year in 2024 saw an estimated 474,000,000 domestic travel trips across China. 

  • Significance of red: The color red represents prosperity in Chinese culture, so not only are buildings decorated in red lanterns, people wear red to manifest this good luck. Additionally, red envelopes - or the Hongbao - are envelopes filled with money to bring good luck and fortune to friends and family members. 

  • Firework displays: Not only do fireworks offer a fantastic spectacle, but they are also thought to ward off evil spirits in Chinese mythology. The myth tells of a monster - named Nian - who would attack villagers each year. To ward off this evil spirit, people would scare him away using loud noises and bright, red lights.

  • Lion and Dragon Dances: Dragons carry plenty of symbolism in Chinese (and Asian) culture. In China, the dragons represent wisdom, fertility, vigor, and integrity. Since the Chinese New Year also celebrates the season of spring, the dragon dances are thought to bring forth a prosperous harvest. 

  • Travel: While many people return to their hometowns or stay at home, others go traveling. Nearby Asian countries, particularly Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore, are very popular among Chinese tourists during this time of year. 


How to Celebrate Chinese New Year as an English Teacher in China 

Red envelope - or Hongbao - a traditional Chinese New Year gift
Red envelope - or Hongbao - a traditional Chinese New Year gift

As a foreigner, it can be hard to know what to do during this festival, especially if you don’t have native friends or family members who can guide you. However, there are many ways you can celebrate Chinese New Year like a local!


Travel during Chinese New Year 

Since you’ll have plenty of time off from school, it’s a great opportunity to go traveling. Whether you want to visit the skyscrapers of Shanghai or somewhere more peaceful such as Chendu, you’ll have no shortage of options for traveling in China. 


However, be sure to plan in advance as methods of transportation - particularly trains - become very busy. Additionally, take into consideration that airfare, accommodation, and other services will become much more expensive during this time of year. 


Incorporate Chinese New Year in the Classroom

There are many ways that English teachers in China can incorporate Chinese New Year in the classroom. Rather than being so strict and relentlessly following the curriculum, consider personalizing your lesson by incorporating the themes of Lunar New Year. 


Remember that teaching English abroad isn’t only about teaching a language, but it is also a matter of cultural exchange. While your students can learn from your culture, you can also learn from theirs! 


Here are some ideas for various levels that you can use to incorporate Chinese New Year in the classroom! 


  • Arts & crafts: Since Chinese New Year is full of aesthetically pleasing objects, you can encourage your students to get creative! From lanterns, dragon masks, red envelopes, or animals, print out some paper for your students to use their imagination during this special time of the year. 

  • Storytelling: Consider having your students practice retelling the origins of Chinese New Year and the significance of the 12 animals in English. 

  • Quizzes & games: Students can be engaged by getting into teams and competing against each other. Whether you create a quiz for them or make them play team games related to Chinese New Year, you can provide small rewards for the winners to incentivize participation. 

  • New year’s resolution: Consider asking your students what they would like to achieve in the new lunar year. You can ask them to create a poster and present their new year resolutions with the rest of the class.

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