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Lunar New Year Facts & Worksheets

Lunar New Year is a celebration observed by many cultures whose calendars begin based on moon cycles

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Lunar New Year is a celebration observed by many cultures whose calendars begin based on moon cycles – also called a lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar.

See the fact file below for more information on the Lunar New Year, or you can download our 28-page Lunar New Year worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ORIGIN OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR

  • Historical evidence shows that the Lunar New Year originated in ancient China – starting in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE.) Later, the Calendar year called nian was developed in the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE) and fixed by the Han Dynasty (202 CE – 220 CE), who also introduced loud, cracking sounds.
  • During the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420 CE), the Chinese people created entertainment and family gatherings during the festival. From the Tang to Qing Dynasties, the celebrations also lead to the development of the Spring Festival, a more social activity.
  • Fireworks, family reunions, eating dumplings, dragon and lion dances, and lantern parades were also introduced as part of the festivities.
  • Today, it is the most significant event in China and among Chinese populations worldwide. The celebration is currently known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year.
  • In China and Chinese communities around the world, the Chinese New Year is an annual 15-day event that starts with the new moon, which on a Western calendar falls between January 21 and February 20. The celebrations carry on until the next full moon.
  • The Chinese Zodiac has twelve animals, each of which corresponds to a different Lunar New Year. The sequence of the cycle, established by the Jade Emperor through the outcomes of a mythical race, is the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. 
  • People born in each of these years are believed to share characteristics with the animal that represents their zodiac sign.

LUNAR NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

  • A variety of traditions, including what to do, refrain from doing, and what to eat, are associated with the Lunar New Year as it is still connected to the country’s religious culture.
  • These traditions are founded on a blend of myth, symbolism, superstition, and history. The reason for the Lunar New Year is to draw good luck and ward off bad luck for the upcoming year.
  • Homeowners celebrating the Lunar New year have their houses meticulously cleaned before the festivity begins. Cleaning represents getting rid of bad luck from the previous year and preparing the house for good luck in the upcoming year.
  • Nothing more strongly represents Lunar New Year in popular culture than tiny red envelopes filled with cash and embellished with gold. 
  • People, especially children, typically receive money in these red envelopes, known as Hong Bao in China, when they visit elderly relatives.
  • Some families perform rituals where they give food and paper idols to the dead. Others hang red sheets and banners inside homes and outside with calligraphy words of good health and wealth. 
  • Foods prepared from sticky rice are frequently consumed because they stand for community. Other delicacies that are also served stand for luck, prosperity, and abundance.
  • Furthermore, Temples are very active during the Lunar New Year period. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, worshippers traditionally travel to the temple to ignite incense and offer prayers to the gods for blessings and luck in the coming year. Additionally, numerous significant temples will perform joyous dragon and lion dances in the courtyard.

COUNTRIES CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR

VIETNAM

  • The most important holiday in Vietnam is the Lunar New Year, also known as Tết Nguyên Đán. 
  • Families gather around this time all over the country to pay tribute to their ancestors and pray for good fortune, wealth, and health in the next year. Although the official vacation only lasts for a week, minor celebrations for Tết go on for much longer.

SOUTH KOREA

  • The Lunar New Year, also known as Seollal, is one of the most significant traditional festivals in Korea and provides an opportunity to honor their elders and ancestors. 
  • At the beginning of the three-day Lunar New Year celebrations, everyone gains one year of age.

MALAYSIA

  • The Lunar New Year is celebrated in Malaysia as the arrival of spring and an occasion for families to get together for a traditional reunion feast. Chap Goh Mei, or Lantern Festival, is observed on the final day of the 15-day holiday.

TAIWAN

  • The majority of individuals in Taiwan return home to spend the Lunar New Year with their relatives. Taiwan is a country where the holiday is closely linked to cuisine. 
  • The most popular food is nian gao, also known as dumplings, followed closely by pineapple. Having leftovers from your holiday dinners and not finishing the entire fish is regarded as lucky.

SINGAPORE

  • Singapore, which has a population of around 75% Chinese, celebrates the Lunar New Year to the fullest. Here, you may indulge in a variety of sweets, including pineapple tarts and nian gao or sticky rice cakes. 
  • Greeting your friends and relatives is an important activity every Lunar New Year!
  • The Lunar New Year’s first day of celebration in this country often occurs between the winter solstice (dongzhi) and the start of spring (lichun). This normally occurs every year between January 21 and February 20.
  • Yusheng, a traditional raw fish salad that is only consumed during the holiday, is another dish that is frequently consumed. 
  • Red envelopes bearing the letter “Fu” which stands for good luck, are also distributed. Additionally, it is traditional to visit a temple and burn incense as a way of showing respect to ancestors.

LUNAR NEW YEAR vs. CHINESE NEW YEAR

  • The term “Chinese New Year” refers exclusively to the new year celebration that honors Chinese customs and culture.
  • A more inclusive name for all events that usher in a new year on a lunar calendar is “Lunar New Year.”
  • Chinese New Year is now largely observed on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which falls between late January and mid-February. Other cultures, however, celebrate the Lunar New Year on the first new moon following the winter solstice.
  • Consequently, the Lunar New Year date is different in various nations, and there is another distinction to be aware of. This is the length of the holiday, with China’s citizens taking a one-week public holiday and South Korea and Singapore have a three-day holiday.

Lunar New Year Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Lunar New Year across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Lunar New Year, a celebration observed by many cultures whose calendars begin based on moon cycles – also called a lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Lunar New Year Facts
  2. Gong Hei Fat Choy!
  3. Symbolic Decorations
  4. Lantern Making
  5. My Papercut Wishes
  6. The Zodiac Animal
  7. Lucky Plants
  8. Red Envelopes
  9. New Year Yum!
  10. Lunar New Year Fashion
  11. Lunar New Year Greetings
  12. Celebrating New Year

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

The Lunar New Year is celebrated on a different date each year, according to the lunar calendar. It usually falls between mid-January and mid-February, depending on the year. The most common dates are between January 21st to February 20th.

Which cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year is celebrated in many cultures, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. The most well-known celebrations take place in China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

What are some of the traditional activities associated with the Lunar New Year?

Some traditional activities associated with the Lunar New Year include cleaning the house to sweep away bad luck, decorating with red lanterns and banners, giving red envelopes filled with money as gifts, and eating special foods such as dumplings, noodles, and sticky rice cakes.

What is the significance of the color red in the Lunar New Year celebrations?

The color red is considered to be very auspicious in the Lunar New Year celebrations. It is believed to bring good luck, prosperity and ward off evil spirits. Red lanterns and banners are hung, people wear red clothes and give red envelopes filled with money as gifts.

What is the Zodiac animal associated with the Lunar New Year?

Each year of the Lunar New Year is associated with one of 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. They are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The zodiac animal is believed to influence the personality and fortunes of people born in that year.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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