As a Chinese American growing up in the United States, I was fortunate to be able to learn and celebrate the holidays important to both my Chinese and American communities. In many cultures, Lunar New Year celebrations are some of the most important days of the year. Lunar New Year 2025 celebrations begin on January 29, which begins the Year of the Snake. They end about two weeks later, on February12, known as the Lantern Festival in China and some other cultures. Learn about the holiday, including its traditions, foods, and more, with these resources about Lunar New Year for kids to use in 2025.
Plus, don’t miss our free downloadable. Grab your full set of ready-to-go Lunar New Year for Kids Google Slides with kid-friendly explanations and discussion questions for your classroom.
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Lunar New Year 2025 Explanation for Kids
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring. The beginning of the new year is determined by the lunisolar calendar (based on the sun and the moon). Each year, Lunar New Year falls on a different date, as it is celebrated during the first 15 days of the first month of the lunisolar calendar, which lead up to the first full moon of the year. This year, Lunar New Year begins on January 29, 2025. Learn more about Lunar New Year here.
Who celebrates Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is celebrated by a variety of countries and cultures that typically follow the lunisolar calendar. These countries include China, Vietnam, and Korea. Other places around the world, especially wherever large populations of people from these countries have gathered, also often hold big Lunar New Year celebrations.
Are there different names for Lunar New Year?
Different countries have different ways of referring to Lunar New Year. Some of these include:
- Chūn Jié (Mandarin) (Chinese New Year)
- Seollal (Korean New Year)
- Tet (Vietnamese New Year)
- Losar (Tibetan New Year)
When is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year starts with the arrival of the first new moon in the lunar calendar. It lasts 15 days and ends with the first full moon. The exact dates vary slightly each year due to moon cycles, but the holiday typically falls between January 21 and February 20. Lunar New Year for 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29.
How does Lunar New Year relate to the Chinese zodiac?
Each year in the Chinese calendar has a corresponding animal from the Chinese zodiac. In 2025, Lunar New Year starts the Year of the Snake.
Is Lunar New Year related to the Spring Festival?
In China, Lunar New Year is often referred to as “Spring Festival,” since the spring season on the traditional Chinese calendar begins around this time.
What are some Lunar New Year traditions?
People around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year in many ways. Here are some of the most common traditions, activities, and foods.
Cleaning
In the two weeks leading up to the start of the festival, people spend time thoroughly cleaning their homes, sweeping out the old “bad luck” and preparing for a fresh new year. Once the celebration officially begins, cleaning of any kind on the first day is strictly forbidden.
Parades
Huge parades with music, floats, and especially large puppets controlled by people inside are a classic part of many Lunar New Year celebrations. In cities around the world, people gather by the thousands for these events, held both during the day and at night. Highlights of these parades often include the Lion Dance and Dragon Dance.
Fireworks/Firecrackers
This is one of the most ancient Lunar New Year traditions, tied closely to the legend of the monster Nian. People attend massive public fireworks displays and set off their own fireworks or firecrackers at home too.
Hóng Bāo Red Envelopes
In China and some other countries, a red envelope with cash inside is a traditional Lunar New Year gift for young (often unmarried) people. The red symbolizes luck and wards off evil, and the envelopes may also have gold decorations of lucky images or characters. Learn more about Hóng Bāo here.
Traditional Foods
These foods and dishes are important parts of many Lunar New Year feasts in different countries. Follow the links to find out more about each one. (Note that many of these foods are eaten in multiple countries and cultures, each of which has their own name for them.)
Videos About Lunar New Year 2025 for the Classroom
Share the traditions and cultural significance of this holiday with your students using the videos below. (Always preview videos first to ensure they’re appropriate for your intended audience.)
Lunar New Year 2025 Books, Activities, Crafts, and Lesson Plans for Kids
These books, activities, and craft projects are a fun way to prepare for Lunar New Year. Use them to decorate your classroom as the holiday approaches.
More Lunar New Year Lesson Plans and Learning Resources
Use these lesson plans to share more about Lunar New Year around the world with students of all ages.
Get your free Lunar New Year 2025 for Kids Google Slides!
Don’t miss our free downloadable. Grab your full set of ready-to-go Lunar New Year for Kids Google Slides with kid-friendly explanations and discussion questions for your classroom.
