How Do People Celebrate Chinese New Year Across The Globe?
Chinese New Year is a celebration of new beginnings; it’s widely celebrated across Asia as well as the rest of the world in many different ways.
You may have heard of the Chinese New Year as Spring Festival, Lunar New Year (attributed to the lunisolar calendar) or Solar New Year. This celebration sees family and friends unite to partake in numerous traditions and events, from decorating homes, eating foods and observing superstitions meant to bring good luck for the coming year.
Chinese New Year has been celebrated for over 3,500 years, with the belief that it may have originated in the Shang Dynasty. When the Chinese held sacrificial ceremonies in honour of Gods and ancestors at the beginning or the end of each year.
In this article, we are going to explore how different parts of the world celebrate the Lunar New Year.
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Celebrating Lunar New Year in Asia
For the Lunar New Year, Asian countries have their own customs. For example, in Korea, it is a three-day event called Seollal dedicated to paying respect to ancestors and elders. You will see children in the family perform Sebae, a deep formal bow of respect, before the older family members.
Take, for example, Japan, where close to January 1st, many Japanese take part in the tradition of Mochitsuki, an all-day event that involves serious dedication! Mochi is eaten with the aspiration that it will bring good fortune over the coming year.
These Lunar New Year celebrations are celebrated by communities, resulting in vibrant festivals where you will see traditional performances such as writing calligraphy.
Solar New Year vs Lunar New Year
In Asia, you will hear the Lunar New Year and Solar New Year, and whilst having their similarities, they also differ in traditions, timing and cultural significance.
For example, the Lunar New Year, which is based on the Lunar calendar, falls between January 21st and February 20th.
In contrast, Solar New Year is celebrated on January 1st according to the Gregorian Calendar and is a global event focused on the transition of the year. Both are rich in cultural and familial rituals, whilst the Lunar New Year tends to be more traditional, the Solar New Year is marked by more global modern festivities.
Why Spring Festival?
The term Chinese New Year is the globally recognised term for the celebration, especially outside of China. However, Spring Festival is the term used predominantly within China, emphasising the seasonal and agricultural significance of the celebration. You can use both terms to refer to the same event, but you may hear them used in different contexts.
Whether you’re planning an event, gathering or community celebration, embracing activities that honour the spirit of renewal and togetherness can make the Lunar New Year meaningful for all guests.
Explore inclusive entertainment ideas – from multicultural performances and interactive workshops to fusion food experiences and family‑friendly traditions
Spring Festival Traditions
The spring festival is steeped in tradition, which contributes to the way it is honoured and celebrated across the world.
Colour Red
From popular mythic tales such as the Nian Monster, where it was discovered that it could be driven away by the colour red. Now you will see red as a main staple of Chinese New Year celebrations, thought to bring luck, whether it’s through wearing red clothing or setting off red fireworks.
What is the cleaning tradition for the Chinese New Year?
In Chinese, the word “dust” symbolises “old,” so traditionally, cleaning the house is believed to sweep away bad luck. This practice represents a fresh start and new beginnings. Interestingly, it originates from a time when frequent washing wasn’t common, and the New Year was often marked by taking a special bath.
Red Envelopes and Decoration
Once the house is cleaned, people celebrate the Chinese New Year by decorating their homes! Welcoming the New Year, some of the most popular decorations include lanterns, year paint, Chinese poetry and calligraphy, also known as Duilian and paper cutting.
You may be familiar with landmark areas such as Chinatown in London, which decorates the entire vicinity with hanging red lanterns – creating quite the spectacle!
Red envelopes hold a significance beyond just their decoration; they are essential to messaging good wishes, blessings and bringing the family and community together with their symbolic gift-giving.
Did you know? Traditionally, during Spring Festival traditions elders and married couples will present red envelopes to unmarried individuals as a gesture of goodwill.
If you’re looking to bring the spirit of the celebration to your event, get in touch with us to explore entertainment and activities that perfectly complement your theme and engage guests of all ages and cultures.
How Major Cities Celebrate Chinese and Lunar New Years
Anyone can join in the Chinese New Year traditions, as across the world, there are numerous public events to celebrate. Major cities will come to life with vibrant markets, displays and performances all bringing to light this special time of year.
Take, for example, Manchester in the UK in 2025, which celebrated in style for the Year of the Snake! With a spectacular Dragon dancing performance and Mandarin pop songs!
For 2026, London will be celebrating the Year of the Horse, with festivities taking place across the West End, including Chinese New Year parades featuring colourful floats and a mass gathering of Chinese lions and dragons.
Perhaps you need to book thrilling entertainment or workshops for a public event yourself? Discover more ideas for celebrations right here – Chinese New Year ideas for cities.
A trip to the USA now, with San Francisco, whose spring festival celebrations feature one of the top ten parades in the world. This incredible Chinese New Year Parade is an illuminated nighttime affair, including floats, dancers, market stalls and more to completely captivate audiences.
In Hong Kong, Chinese New Year celebrations are one of the biggest festivals in Asia, with interactive installations and float parades. As well as this, they celebrate with flower markets, which feature incredible stalls from festive decor to gadgets and toys.
“Chingay” will celebrate its 61st National Day in Singapore in 2026 with a community and family parade that celebrates food with the sharing of stories and cultures, as well as achievements, with beautiful home-cooked meals, hearty hawker dishes and fine dining that encourages interactivity and participation.
And in Sydney, Australia, you will find competitive Dragon Boat Racing. This festival sees more than 3,000 paddlers battle it out across 3 exciting days packed with competition, music and entertainment.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated across the globe in diverse ways, but at its core, it embodies a spirit of community, tradition, and fresh beginnings. These heartfelt celebrations bring people together and transform cities into vibrant, feel-good hubs of joy and cultural festivity.
To make your event just as memorable, reach out to us for ideas on entertainment and activities that capture the Lunar New Year spirit and delight guests from every background.
Event Ideas: How to Celebrate Chinese New Year
Whether you’re a town council, company owner or just want to host a Chinese New Year party, here are some event ideas to celebrate.
Lanterns
Whatever space you are working with, transform it with lanterns, as part of traditional Chinese Theming, they will stand out, adding impact to any venue or outdoor location. Remember to use plenty of red!
Lion and Dragon Dancers
An easy way to infuse traditional Chinese festivity into your event is by featuring a lion or dragon dance performance. Perfect for corporate headquarters or public parades, these dynamic displays of acrobatics and vibrant costumes are guaranteed to captivate audiences and attract crowds from near and far.
Calligraphy Workshops
As discussed, calligraphy and Chinese poetry are steeped in tradition. Ideal for corporate entertainment or public interaction, calligraphy workshops and displays are sure to elevate your spring festival celebrations.
Kung Fu Demonstrations
Kung Fu is a spectacle to behold, embracing Chinese tradition with these impressive performers who will have audiences on the edge of their seats as they perform daring martial arts.
Storytelling
Set up specific zones dedicated to traditional storytelling, perfect for families looking to entertain little ones in the traditions of Chinese culture. If you need help with your Chinese New Year ideas, you can use a UK event company such as ours to assist.
For more ideas: Take a look at our 25 Chinese New Year Entertainment Ideas for 2026.
Food, Food and more Food!
Chinese New Year celebrations wouldn’t be complete without exploring traditional and delicious foods!
Some of the most traditional Chinese foods eaten during the holiday include:
- Whole Fish
- Dumplings
- Noodles
- Whole Chicken
- Chinese New Year Cake
- Spring Rolls
If that list doesn’t make you hungry, we don’t know what will! The Lunar New Year should be a feast for the senses, with these foods symbolising wealth, prosperity and happiness.
Hosting a food-centric event can be a great way to immerse your guests or employees in the Chinese New Year traditions. You could consider setting up a pop-up food market featuring iconic dishes or interactive cooking demonstrations, such as dumpling-making workshops.
Celebrate culinary heritage whilst encouraging team-building and appreciation for the Chinese culture, perfect for corporate and community events.
Why Celebrating the Lunar New Year is so Important
Celebrating Chinese New Year in the events industry is crucial as it offers a unique opportunity to connect diverse audiences and create immersive experiences that celebrate cultural heritage and community.
With vibrant festivals and stunning traditions, such as lion dances, firework displays, and delicious cuisine, event organisers can engage guests with memorable atmospheres and interactive experiences.
For the corporate sector, hosting Chinese New Year events can boost employee morale, encourage inclusivity, and demonstrate cultural awareness, while offering opportunities for brand engagement, partnerships and promotions.
With the growing popularity of the spring festival across the globe, now is an ideal time for event planners to tap into multicultural markets. Creating incredible experiences that honour tradition, reflect community and celebrate diversity whilst connecting the globe.
Celebrate Chinese New Year With Us
If you’re feeling inspired to host your own Chinese New Year celebrations, we can help.
2026 will see the Year of the Horse, and we have plenty of entertainment, theming and ideas for you to host an unforgettable celebration.
Our team have managed corporate Chinese Themed Events such as gala dinners, transformed event spaces with Asia-inspired theming and provided captivating traditional Chinese Themed Entertainment for city centres and companies.
We can create bespoke Lunar New Year experiences for your guests, from calligraphy workshops to office transformations and unique performances reflective of your requirements.
Celebrate Chinese New Year in style and get in touch with us today.
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