5 Fun Chinese New Year Activities for 2024

What are the best things to do in Chinese New Year? Here is our list of the 10 most interesting Chinese New Year’s activities for 2024 celebrations. 

Do you know why Chinese New Year is one of the best celebrations of the year? Many people just know about New Year’s Eve and the first three days, when families gather and distribute lucky money. But it is not the whole. The thrills of Chinese New Year last almost 23 days, from preceding days, starting from the 23rd of the 12th lunar month to the 15th of the next month. In this long festival, there are plenty of activities to do. 

Cleaning and Decorating The House​​ – Chinese New Year Activities

The first Chinese New Year’s activity is to clean the house and decorate your home with beautiful Chinese New Year crafts. The Chinese word for ‘dust’ is a homophone for ‘old’. Therefore, cleaning the house is a symbolic act of sweeping away the bad luck of the previous year to make way for a fresh start in the new year.

In addition, putting up some New Year decorations. They can be bought from shops or hand-made crafts from your kids.

Some decoration ideas include:

  • Red Chinese lanterns – Hanging them in front of the door is believed to drive off bad luck.
  • Blossoming flowers, like peonies, orchids, and plum blossoms, symbolize the coming of spring and expect a thriving new year.
  • New Year couplets – Paper Door Banners – Chinese New Year Paintings: express good wishes and greet the new year to the home.
  • Kumquat trees symbolize a wish for both wealth and good luck.
Chinese New Year activities – Image: istock

Chinese New Year Craft – Chinese New Year Activities

New Year festival is the best occasion for having fun with your kids or enjoying your me-time with crafting and handmade. Spending some hours immersed in the world of creativity and art. Don’t push too hard; you can start with some simple items such as:

  • Make Paper Lanterns: It is one of the easiest and cheapest handmade items for New Year decor. Kids love doing it; they can choose the color they like and show their creativity.
  • ​​Make Cupcake Liner Dragons: Craft a vibrant cupcake liner. Chinese dragon craft is also an excellent idea this year. All colors work; however, red, orange, and yellow really capture the spirit of this celebration.
  • Fun Printable Chinese Red Envelopes Envelope Dragon Craft: This year is the year of dragons, so don’t forget to make your decorations and red envelopes lively with dragon patterns. Recently, many short Tiktok videos have been teaching how to draw lovely dragons to the red envelopes, so it isn’t hard at all. 
  • Chinese New Year Couplets Craft: If you love calligraphy, crafting New Year couplets sounds interesting. Select your couplet messages thoughtfully and write them down on printable banners.
Art and craft Chinese New Year – Image: craftsonsea

New Year Shopping – Chinese New Year Activities

Every year before the Lunar New Year, shopping for new clothes, shoes, accessories, food, drinks, fruits, furniture, and flowers is an irreplaceable tradition. It implies a vibrant renewal of life and a fresh start. Families stock up on festive treats, auspicious dishes, and special delicacies to share during gatherings. Fruits are bought on purpose with symbolic meanings, such as oranges for wealth and tangerines for good luck. 

Lunar New Year activities – Image: Getgo

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Reunion Dining and Game Night – Chinese New Year Activities

Everyone is looking forward to having a reunion meal with family. The most important meal is the reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve, which is perhaps the most loved Chinese New Year’s Activity of the Spring Festival. No one can deny the excitement and warmth as family members gather under one roof.

Furthermore, adding some activities like a game night, playing Mahjong, board games,  or a New Year trivia quiz with your family is a delightful way to extend the festive cheer beyond the dining table. After the sumptuous reunion dinner, families often transition into a game night filled with laughter, friendly competition, and a touch of educational fun.

Host a trivia night in Chinese New Year theme with AhaSlides – Image: AhaSlides.

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Visit Temples – Chinese New Year Activities

The first three days of the New Year are great occasions to visit temples. It is one of the most important Chinese New Year Activities where people worship in Buddhist temples on the Lunar New Year’s Day across China and Chinese communities as it implies a deep reverence for spirituality, a desire for blessings, and the seeking of divine guidance for the upcoming year. 

Best Chinese New Year Activities – Image: brightspot cdn

Bottom Lines

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, let’s take our advice on Chinese New Year Activities and embrace the spirit of renewal and celebration with your family and best friends. Let’s make this Chinese New Year a time of unity, understanding, and shared joy with PickanEvent, where you can find unique inspiration and ideas to create lasting memories. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do you usually do during Chinese New Year?

Celebrations for Chinese New Year are super interesting and engaging. People usually stay up late on New Year’s Eve to participate in a tradition known as “Shousui,” which literally translates to “seeing the New Year in.” Everyone, especially the young, goes downtown to gather in public spaces to join the countdown festival and see fireworks. Some stay at home and watch the New Year gala. 

What is the most popular way to celebrate Chinese New Year?

Here are some common traditions to celebrate Chinese New Year: 
New Year’s Eve dinner
Firework
Shou Sui
Exchange Red envelopes
Go to the New Year market
Visit relatives and friends
Lion dances

How can I celebrate Chinese New Year at home?

If you want to celebrate Chinese New Year at home, consider the following activities:
Clearing your houses and decorating with red and yellow items
Preparing traditional foods
Watching the New Year Gala Show
Play traditional music
Host a game night with family and friends, such as playing games of chance like poker or blackjack, or skills games like mahjong or rummy, or arrange a Chinese New Year trivia game.

Ref: La Museum