Books About Chinese New Year
Read these books to see how the Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year: “Chinese New Year For Kids,” “Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats”, “The Dancing Dragon,” “Sam and the Lucky Money,” “The Dragon New Year,” “Legends of Chinese Festivals,” “Chinese New Year” and more.

New Year Music
Authentic Chinese New Year music is usually played on traditional instruments, especially Chinese drums. Check out our musical offerings for New Year celebrations: “Chinese New Year Music (CD),” “Kung Hei Ni - Cantonese,” “Happy New Year Songs” and more.

Chinese New Year Cards
RED and GOLD are predominant colors in most Chinese New Year greeting cards because red symbolizes happiness and gold symbolizes wealth. Check out our “Holiday Cards,” “Folk Painting Cards,” “Calligraphy Cards”, “ChinaSprout Cards” and more.

Chinese New Year Video
Your children will be delighted as they watch a traditional New Year's celebration in Chinatown in Philadelphia and the powerful Lion Dance with bold percussion music; the vivacious Ribbon Dance with long silk ribbons making calligraphic patterns in the air. Check out our “Chinese New Year,” “The Art of the Chinese Dance” and more.

Chinese Clothing
Another popular tradition for the New Year is for everyone to wear brand new clothes, especially those designed in a traditional style. With red being the color that symbolizes good luck, you'll see people of all ages wearing red dresses, jackets, and assorted other beautiful outfits. You can join Chinese around the world in this celebration of all things new by dressing up in your own new set of traditional clothes.

Chinese Lion Dance
Lion dance is a remarkable combination of performance arts and atheletics. Normally performed by two people, it takes years of training and practice before one may be good enough to perform in public! It's no surprise that many lion dancers are also skilled practioners of Chinese martial arts.

Good Luck Characters and Other Wall Decorations
In China, the favorite decorations during Chinese New Year are the “Good Luck” character and the New Year Greeting Children (a boy and a girl holding "Lucky" signs). Both symbolize Good Luck and happiness. Check out other wall decorations for the New Year!

Lanterns
Lanterns were said to have been used on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to help see the gods by torch light. Each family would construct an elaborate paper lantern for this purpose.

Couplets and Scrolls
Traditional couplets, each half written on vertical paper banners (duilian), would be pasted on either side of the front gate of a house, often with a complementary horizontal banner placed over the door. (Nowadays, all three are generally placed around the front door of a house.) Classically poetic in composition, the couplets would express wishes for good fortune, long life, many friends, etc.

Red Envelopes
During the New Year celebration, it was just as important was to show respect to one's living elders as it was to honor one’s ancestors. Younger family members would ketou (kowtow) to members of each generation above them, beginning with the eldest and continuing down in order to their parents. When children showed respect this way, they were rewarded with red envelopes (hongbao) which contained New Year's money (yasui qian).

Firecrackers
Fire crackers were used to chase away the mythical monster, Nian, which had terrorized the people. But over time, their loud noises have evolved to the purpose of creating a jovial holiday mood. So, when you hear firecrackers, you'll know that Chinese New Year is just around the corner.

Papercuts
In the countryside, people also decorate their windows for the New Year with Chuang Hua, or Window Flowers, which are usually in the form of papercut. Most Chuanghua are in red and include lucky and prosperous symbols, such as children holding fishes or flowers. Now you too can decorate your window with these original papercuts! Check out our papercut collection: People, Characters, Animals, Zodiac.