Lunar New Year Party Tips and Tricks

What’s the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year (or Spring Festival) marks the day the lunar calendar resets. Celebrated in many Asian countries, the Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon of the calendar year and ends 15 days later with the first full moon. And while many associate the Lunar New Year with the Chinese New Year, the dates can differ slightly outside of China.

Planning a Lunar New Year Celebration?

Ready to ring in the Lunar New Year with a party of your own? We can help with information on Lunar New Year traditions, plus decoration and recipe ideas to help bring good fortune into the new year.

1. A Deep Clean for Good Luck
   Get ready for guests by “sweeping away any misfortune” that may have entered your home over the past year. Once finished, it’s time to enjoy family, friends and Lunar New Year food (no cleaning during the New Year celebration, or you’ll sweep away your new good luck).
   
   
2. Have Them Seeing Red
   Red is the official color of the Lunar New Year, as it signifies joy and luck. Incorporate as much red as possible into your celebration, including a tablescape with red flowers, and red placemats, napkins or plates as well. Many families wrap lucky money in red envelopes to share happiness and blessings.
   
   
3. A Citrus Celebration
   Oranges and tangerines (with their leaves still on) symbolize good fortune, so incorporate a bowl of them as a pretty centerpiece for your table. You can even place them in a red bowl for added flair. At the end of the meal, invite everyone to enjoy an orange for dessert, which signifies good health in the New Year.
   
   
4. Get Crafty with Decorations
   A few homemade decorations add an extra-special touch to the festivities. Craft a few Chinese lanterns, firecrackers (for decoration only) and red envelopes with money (for young children), along with traditional symbols (Happy New Year: 新年快樂, Good Fortune: 福)as a fun bit of décor.
   
   
5. Include the Kiddos
   Keep the kids entertained with a Lunar New Year craft project, such as creating festive fans to add to your décor. Decorate a large sheet of red construction paper with a gold crayon, stickers or decorative foam stamps dipped in gold acrylic paint. Once the paint dries, fold the paper accordion style, making pleats about 1” wide and secure the bottom with a stapler, a clothespin or pipe cleaners wrapped around the end to use as a handle.

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