So here's what I've done with my own kids......
1) TELL FUN STORIES: YouTube is a glorious thing when used correctly and appropriately. We always find the story of Nian, the Zodiac, and watch them a few times over. I also wrote my own little fun book about the Zodiac with modern fairytales and known stories, and my kids and I read that together along with the felt finger puppets I made a few years ago (super easy, you should totally try it!) One of these days, I'll get around to illustrating my book and put it online for everyone to access for free, but until then... check out these great videos.
We also love this video Panda Express put out to educate ourselves on all the traditions and symbols and all that jazz.
2) WEAR RED: We don't really have much red in our household so finding something "lucky" and red to wear is always fun, bonus that it can double for Valentine's which is usually not far away. I've actually always purchased some traditional Chinese clothing for my kids, because I think it's so cute, and when you don't live in Arcasia, it's not as cheesy as I always thought it was growing up (yes, I was so judgmental of those asian gals who married white guys and then dressed their hapa kids in traditional Chinese clothing, and then I went and married a hapa guy and I still do the same thing.... so.......). For some reason, when you live away from the Chinese masses, it feels honorable and necessary in order to preserve your culture and share with all the white people that Chinese New Year is coming up. I've made it a tradition in our own family to always wear our Chinese New Year clothing or red to Church the Sunday before Chinese New Year's, and I LOVE it!
3) PASS OUT RED ENVELOPES: Lucky money in the form of hong baos (Mandarin) or lai si (Cantonese) is always a hit with my kids. This year, I got smart and ordered some cute year of the rat envelopes from Amazon ahead of time, so I didn't have to go digging into my stash of used envelopes gifted to my kids from all our visits back to LA that didn't have writing on them. (Guilty, totally have done that before)
4) PLAY CHINESE GAMES: I thought long and hard about this one, and wanted a way to share about some of the traditions while having fun. So I came up with some fun games and a scavenger hunt, and plan to do it with my kids and some friends.
5) EAT CHINESE FOOD: This might come easier to some who can cook ALL the Chinese food, but even if you can't - celebrate by going to your local Panda Express or dim sum on the weekend. We have made it a tradition with cousins and their kids, to go grab dim sum the Saturday near Chinese New Year's with our kids. This is when I pass out lucky envelopes to the kids!
6) DO SOME CRAFTS: We have loved doing Chinese New Year crafts. The easiest are paper lanterns, but we've also done origami with whatever animal is up for the year, and painted egg cartons and made dragons (which are popular animals all the time even when it's not their turn in the Zodiac).
Here are some great craft tutorials that you can do with your kids!
7) SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CONGRATULATIONS MAY YOU PROSPER: So even though it's the New Year, everyone is always saying gong xi fa cai (Mandarin ) or gong hay fat choi (Cantonese) which from a literal translation is congratulations, may you prosper, but it's meant to convey luck, fortune, and all good things for the year. Happy new year is actually xing nian kuai le (Mandarin). I think it's important that my kids know how to say these phrases, so we go over it again and again. Growing up, we'd always joke, happy new year, gimme that red envelope, because in Mandarin, they rhyme, as follows: xing nian kuai le, hong bao na lai! Well, I suppose as I write that, it's more the alliteration than the fact that they rhyme rhyme.
8) ATTEND SOME COMMUNITY EVENT: There is ALWAYS some local Chinese association doing some type of performance or community event, and it will ALWAYS include a lion dance, and if you're lucky, more authentic traditional Chinese dancing. But there's always something in every town in a community center or local school, or a library, or even super markets (that's a thing here in Salt Lake City!) Here in SLC, our kids museum is even doing some crafts and activities on Saturday, which is when Chinese New Year's falls on this year! Traditionally, the Eve is celebrated more and usually when I used to dine with my family.
Anyway, that's how this American born Chinese mom is celebrating the New Year with my 3/4 but very American kids. Most important to me is that the kids understand what a big deal this holiday is in Asia, and the big holiday of the year for them (not Christmas). I want them to know how important this was that I always asked for time off from work early during busy season, so that I could have a traditional meal with my family (and get my lucky envelope since I wasn't married yet!). It's a fun holiday to celebrate, and I'm glad I get a reason to celebrate it with my kids, and pass on the traditions of our people!
