Chinese New Year begins February 8, 2016. Share this ancient tradition in celebrating a year of hard work and a prosperous new year by creating these fun and easy activities with the kids.
Considered the most important Chinese holiday, Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, lasting around three weeks between January 21 to February 20. Based on a Chinese legend, Buddha requested all the animals to meet with him on on Chinese New Year. When 12 animals accepted the call, Buddha named a year after each of them, thus creating the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. This year, 2016, is considered the year of the monkey (as was 2004 and 1980), so the year and the people born during that same year are considered to possess certain traits.
While all of that may be much to explain to the kids, there are several easy ways to teach them key parts about Chinese New Year.
1.) Read it.
Share the legend of Chinese New Year including all the beauty of the “Spring festival,” dragon dances and more by sharing a story with authentic photos from China like this beautiful book from National Geographic Kids.
2.) Make It.
The Chinese create beautiful art in all shapes and sizes. From origami, fortune cookies, paper dragons, Chinese lanterns, and more – there are so many things you can create to recognize, appreciate and teach your kids about the Chinese culture and the Chinese New Year. Take a little time to learn a special craft together. Or you can do something a little easier like this kid-friendly “sushi,” made with lunch meat, cheese, and bread. This video shows you how!
3.) Eat It.
No time to make and do for holiday? No problem! P.F. Chang’s is celebrating Chinese New Year with a special celebration lasting the whole month beginning February 8.
Just like the ancient tradition of red envelopes, the eatery will be handing traditional Chinese red envelopes with free offers on trees around its restaurants. Five lucky winners will even open an envelope for free P.F. Chang’s for a year!
Also in the spirit of the holiday, you can also give to others with the special social promotion. Enjoy six signature items on its Chinese New Year menu and you share your wish for 2016 on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #PFChangswish, they’ll donate $1 (up to $100,000) to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The Long Life Noodles and Prawns ix full of flavor with spices and chiles.
P.F. Chang’s Chinese New Year menu features six signature menu that symbolically represent the luck of the new year, including:
- Sichuan Chili Garlic Chicken
- Hong Kong Style Sea Bass
- Long Life Noodles & Prawns
- Butternut Squash Dumplings
- Mandarin Cake
- Monkey Mule (a unique twist on the traditional Moscow Mule featuring Monkey Shoulder whisky and house-made ginger beer)
How are you planning to celebrate Chinese New Year?
Now all I want is PF Changs! I love their food. The Long Life Noodles and Prawns is absolutely making me drool over here. You have some great tips for sharing the Chinese New Year with kids also. Very fun!
I always find Chinese New Year interesting. My daughter’s best friend is Chinese…so we hear a lot about the food and the zodiac signs…that is the part I love the best!
I will take a trip to PF Chang’s any day! NOM. These are all awesome ideas.
I love the lunch meat sushi idea! My kids would love that!
I hadn’t thought about celebrating the Chinese New Year, but now you have me thinking I should figure out something other than ordering takeout, of course.
I LOVE PF CHANGS! We don’t live near one, however, we love their frozen entrees! It’s another great way to celebrate Chinese New Year at home!
I know nothing about the Chinese new year. I would love for my child to learn about other cultures I may look into getting that book.
P.F. Chang’s is my favorite restaurant. I’m so glad they’re offering up so many nom noms this Chinese New Year.
We love celebrating Chinese New Year at our house. We go all out and make all kinds of sushi and sweet and sour chicken. It is amazing.
We like lunchmeat sushi too! Great ideas on this list
I love your lunch meat sushi – I can see my daughter and I whipping up something similar. She would love to do that.
Yum, love this food. We have a great Chinatown in my city and it is fun to go there for Chinese New Year.
I will admit I have never eaten at nor tried the frozen entrees from P.F. Chang. I must add this to my must try list.
P. F. Chang entrees are really flavorful and are a reasonable price. I like to go to my local Chinatown and partake in celebrating the Chinese New Year.
I love how colourful the Chinese New Year celebrations are and the food is delicious. Because I am in a small city there isn’t any celebrations that I know of.
I will have to take a trip to PF Chang’s now! Yummy!
We actually don’t celebrate Chinese New Year. I don’t really know much about it either. I think it would be fun to celebrate with my kids though. Sounds really interesting.
What fun ways to teach kids about the Chinese New Year! I do not know much about it myself so this would be great for everyone in my house.
P.F. Chang’s Chinese New Year menu looks delicious. I will have to see if there is a location close to me.
P.F. Chang’s would be a great place to go celebrate the Chinese New Year. My kids would love the Chinese New Year menu.
The Long Life Noodles and Prawns looks so delicious i wish i could have some right now. I will have to go check out P F Chang’s.
We are going to celebrate the Chinese New Year with some delicious Chinese food. The Long Life Noodles and Prawns look so delicious.
How fun!! I have nothing at all planned for the Chinese new year, so not organised this year! May have to borrow your sandwich sushi idea for the kids tomorrow – I am sure they would love it!
These are adorable ideas. You also have me hungry for Chinese food. I want to go to PF Changs..
These are great ideas. I was trying to explain the Chinese new year to my kids but having a book to read would have been so helpful!
We’ve never celebrated Chinese New year. I do wish there was one closer to us, some of their dishes sound so intriguing!
What fun! I love the idea of teaching my kids about other cultures and learning new about new foods too! The lunchmeat sushi is so clever! Thanks
I’ve actually never been to PF Changs! I’ll have to go for a family dinner some time!
I love the lunchbox sushi! My kids would love to have this for lunch too!
Mmm Chinese food sounds SO good right now. Yum! This sounds like a fun way to celebrate and educate at the same time!
PF Changs is in our take out drawer! My family and I love it! Happy Chinese New Year!