Activities for Chinese New Year 2025

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most anticipated celebrations in Chinese culture. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is a time for family reunions, honoring traditions, and welcoming prosperity and good fortune. In 2025, Chinese New Year will usher in the Year of the Snake, an auspicious time for reflection, transformation, and growth.

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate this festive occasion and get into the spirit of the season, there are a wide range of activities to enjoy, from cultural rituals to fun family traditions. Whether you’re celebrating with family at home, attending community events, or exploring Chinese New Year celebrations in your city, here are some meaningful and engaging activities you can partake in for Chinese New Year 2025.

1. Decorate Your Home with Traditional Symbols

One of the most exciting ways to kick off the Chinese New Year celebrations is by decorating your home with symbolic items that bring good fortune, health, and happiness for the upcoming year. Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake, snake-themed decorations can be added to your collection, alongside traditional elements like red lanterns, couplets, and the Chinese character “福” (fu), which symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Here are a few ideas for decorating your space:

• Red Lanterns: Hang red lanterns in doorways or windows to invite good luck and ward off negative energy.
• Spring Couplets: Display poetic phrases on red paper on both sides of your front door. These couplets often contain wishes for a prosperous year ahead.
• Snake-Inspired Decorations: Add snake figurines or images of snakes to emphasize the transformation and renewal associated with the Year of the Snake.
• Upside-Down Fu: The Chinese character for luck, “福” (fu), is often displayed upside down during Chinese New Year to symbolize that good luck is arriving.

Decorating with these traditional symbols will not only set the festive mood in your home, but it will also help bring positive energy and blessings into your life for the year ahead.

2. Prepare and Share a Festive Feast

Food plays a major role in Chinese New Year celebrations, as each dish carries specific meanings and symbolizes good fortune. Families often come together for a lavish reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve, and it is a time to share delicious food and offer well wishes for the coming year.

For Chinese New Year 2025, you can try preparing these traditional dishes to serve during your family meal:

• Dumplings: Dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity due to their shape, which resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots. Eating dumplings at midnight is believed to bring financial success.
• Fish: The word for fish (鱼, yú) sounds like the word for surplus, and serving fish represents abundance and good fortune. Ensure you leave some fish uneaten, as it symbolizes the hope for a surplus in the coming year.
• Noodles: Noodles represent longevity and are often served uncut, symbolizing a long and healthy life.
• Sticky Rice Cake (Nian Gao): This dish is made from glutinous rice and represents growth and progress, symbolizing the hope for improvement and success.
• Sweet Rice Dumplings (Tangyuan): Served during the Lantern Festival (15 days after New Year), these round dumplings symbolize family unity and completeness.

These dishes are not only tasty but are rich in symbolism, making them the perfect foods for your celebration.

3. Exchange Red Envelopes (Hongbao)

A beloved tradition during Chinese New Year is the giving and receiving of red envelopes, known as hongbao. These envelopes, typically filled with money, are given to children, unmarried adults, and employees as a gesture of good luck and blessings for the upcoming year. The color red symbolizes joy, happiness, and protection from evil spirits.

In 2025, you can continue this tradition by preparing red envelopes to give to your loved ones. The amount of money inside the envelope is less important than the thought behind it, and it is often given in even numbers, as odd numbers are associated with funerals. You can also consider sending digital red envelopes using mobile apps, a practice that has become increasingly popular in urban areas.

4. Watch or Participate in Chinese New Year Parades

Chinese New Year parades are vibrant and lively events that showcase Chinese culture and traditions. Many cities around the world, particularly those with large Chinese communities, hold parades featuring traditional lion and dragon dances, acrobatics, folk performances, and colorful floats. These parades are a feast for the senses and are an exciting way to engage with the local community during the celebrations.

If you’re in a city like San Francisco, New York, or London, you’ll likely find large-scale Chinese New Year parades with spectacular performances. If you live in an area where such parades are held, consider attending to immerse yourself in the energy and culture of the event. Alternatively, you can even organize a small-scale parade in your neighborhood, featuring dragon dance performances, lantern displays, and fireworks.

5. Enjoy Fireworks and Firecrackers

Fireworks are an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations. They are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring in good fortune for the upcoming year. The loud sounds and vibrant colors of fireworks are used to drive away any lingering negative energy from the previous year, making way for new beginnings.

In many cities, especially in China, large-scale fireworks displays are held to mark the arrival of the new year. If you are in a location where fireworks are permitted, you can celebrate by lighting sparklers, firecrackers, and small fireworks at home, following local safety guidelines. Fireworks are also a fun way to bring family and friends together to celebrate.

6. Participate in the Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival marks the grand finale of Chinese New Year celebrations, taking place on the 15th day of the lunar new year. During this festival, lanterns of all sizes and shapes light up the night sky. People carry lanterns through the streets or release them into the air, making this a joyful and visually stunning celebration.

You can create your own lanterns with your children or friends using paper and string. Once crafted, you can display them around your home or take part in a local lantern procession. Additionally, you can enjoy eating tangyuan, sweet rice dumplings filled with sesame paste, during the Lantern Festival as a symbol of family unity and togetherness.

7. Teach Children About Chinese New Year Traditions

For families with children, Chinese New Year is a great opportunity to teach young ones about the rich history and traditions of the holiday. There are many fun and interactive activities you can do with kids to help them learn about the significance of Chinese New Year and the symbolism behind the celebrations.

• Storytelling: Share the legend of the mythical beast Nian, which is believed to come out on New Year’s Eve. Explain how people used fireworks, red decorations, and loud noises to scare it away and bring good luck.
• Arts and Crafts: Make Chinese lanterns, paper dragons, or cut-out decorations featuring the Chinese character “福” (fu). This is a great way to incorporate art into the learning process.
• Cultural Games: Play traditional Chinese games like mahjong or tangram puzzles, or teach children how to play with spinning tops or jump ropes, which are popular during Chinese New Year.

8. Reflect and Set Intentions for the Year Ahead

Chinese New Year is a time for new beginnings, and it provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year while setting goals and intentions for the coming year. Take some time during the celebration to write down your hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. These could be personal goals, family-oriented intentions, or ways you plan to contribute to your community. Sharing these resolutions with loved ones can also create a sense of togetherness and mutual support.

Chinese New Year 2025 offers numerous opportunities for celebration, reflection, and family bonding. Whether you’re decorating your home, preparing delicious foods, participating in parades, or engaging in cultural activities with your family, Chinese New Year is a time to honor traditions, connect with loved ones, and look forward to a prosperous year. As we embrace the Year of the Snake, let’s celebrate the spirit of renewal, wisdom, and growth, and enjoy the festivities that bring joy to people of all ages.