Chinese New Year — also known as Lunar New Year — is one of the most joyful and meaningful festivals in the world. With lanterns glowing, dragons dancing, red envelopes exchanging hands, and families gathering, it’s truly a celebration full of culture, tradition, and magic.
2025 marks the Year of the Snake, and what better way to honor this festive season than with fun, creative, and educational Chinese New Year crafts and activities for kids?
Whether you’re a parent planning festive home activities, a teacher organizing a classroom theme week, or a caregiver supporting cultural learning, this list of 60 Chinese New Year crafts & activities is perfect for bringing Lunar New Year spirit to young learners.
Let’s dive into a celebration filled with color, creativity, and cultural appreciation! 🐍🎉
🗓️ When is Chinese New Year 2025?
In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on:
📅 Wednesday, January 29, 2025
🌕 Lantern Festival ends celebrations on February 12, 2025
The festival marks the beginning of the new lunar calendar year and brings 15 days of cultural traditions, family gatherings, feasts, prayers, and celebrations.
🐍 2025 is the Year of the Snake
According to the Chinese zodiac cycle, each year represents one of the 12 zodiac animals. The 2025 animal is the Snake, symbolizing:
✨ Wisdom
✨ Intuition
✨ Transformation
✨ Elegance
Kids love learning about the zodiac animals, making this the perfect time for snake-themed crafts, coloring pages, storytelling, and role-play.
🧧 What Makes Chinese New Year Special for Kids?
Lunar New Year is a rich learning opportunity that introduces children to:
- World cultures and geography
- Symbolism and folklore
- Language and calligraphy
- History and traditions
- Food and festivals
- Art, dance, and music
Crafts and activities help make those lessons joyful, memorable, and hands-on.
🎨 Supplies You May Want handy
Most activities need simple materials:
- Red & gold paper
- Tissue paper & crepe paper
- Marker pens & crayons
- Scissors & glue
- Yarn & string
- Popsicle sticks
- Buttons, sequins, pom-poms
- Toilet paper rolls
- Recycled cardboard
- Paints & brushes
Pro tip: Use red & gold — they symbolize good fortune and happiness in Chinese culture.
🧧 60 Chinese New Year Crafts & Activities for Kids
🐍 Year of the Snake Crafts (2025 Theme)
- Paper coil snake craft
- Fingerprint snake painting
- Bottle-cap snake trail art
- Yarn-wrapped snake
- Beaded pipe-cleaner snake
- Folded accordion snake
- Snake mask for pretend play
- Tissue paper mosaic snakes
- Handprint snake craft
- Snake themed lucky banner
🐉 Dragon Crafts & Activities
- Paper dragon puppet
- Dragon parade costume
- Dragon headband
- Dragon finger puppets
- Toilet-roll dragon blower
- Dragon drawing workshop
- Dragon puppet show playtime
- Painted dragon scales art
- Cup-stack dragon body
- Dragon dance with ribbons
🐯 Zodiac Animal Learning Crafts
- Zodiac wheel coloring craft
- Finger-puppet animals
- Paper plate zodiac animals
- Play-dough zodiac figures
- Animal flashcards
- Zodiac storytelling cards
- Zodiac painting set
- Origami zodiac animals
- Felt animal masks
- Zodiac guessing game
🧧 Red Envelope & Money Crafts
- DIY red envelopes
- Gold coin stamping craft
- Envelope decorating station
- “Kindness coin reward game”
- Cultural role-play lucky envelopes
- Paper coin garland
- Envelope origami bookmarks
- Color-and-fold money pockets
- Lucky money tray craft
- Envelope printing art
- Accordion paper lanterns
- Hanging tassel lanterns
- Painted jar lantern craft
- Paper-cut lantern silhouettes
- Glow-stick lantern parade
- Lantern wish writing circle
- Lantern coloring sheets
- Star lantern mobile
- Lantern wind chimes
- Cup lantern decorations
🌸 Cherry Blossom & Spring Crafts
- Cotton-ball cherry blossoms
- Pink tissue blossom branches
- Fingerprint blossom trees
- Pom-pom blossom garden
- Paper fan cherry trees
- Spring flower hair clips
- Watercolor blossom landscape
- Cherry blossom window art
- Clay blossom stamp art
- Blossom nature-walk scavenger hunt
🎭 Additional Fun Lunar New Year Activities
- Traditional dance playtime (lion & dragon pretend play)
- Ribbon dancing & drum circle
- Sensory tray with rice & gold buttons
- Chinese New Year storybooks circle
- Mandarin greeting practice (“Xin Nian Kuai Le!”)
- Fortune cookie writing station (positive messages)
- Safe chopstick practice game
- Calligraphy with paintbrushes
- Traditional food tasting (kid-friendly options)
- Cultural costume dress-up corner
These activities help kids build global awareness, creativity, and cultural respect.
💡 Tips for Educators & Parents
- Explain cultural meaning behind each craft
- Play classical Chinese music during craft time
- Display finished art as a mini-festival gallery
- Encourage “Kindness & Good Fortune” affirmations
- Avoid cultural stereotypes — focus on learning & respect
- Teach simple phrases & zodiac fun facts
Crafting is not only fun — it’s a bridge to cultural appreciation & global citizenship.
❤️ Final Thoughts
Celebrating Chinese New Year with kids brings vibrant joy, learning, and hands-on creativity into the season. With these 60 crafts and activities, children can explore traditions, build cultural respect, and create memories filled with color and happiness.
As you prepare for the Year of the Snake 2025, may your celebrations be filled with wisdom, good fortune, and new beginnings.
✨ Xin Nian Kuai Le! — Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧🐍🎆
Chinese New Year crafts for kids
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