Lunar New Year Crafts: 16 Fun Ideas for Kids
Looking for ways to make the Lunar New Year more exciting for your kids this year?
The Lunar New Year is one of the most colorful and meaningful celebrations in the world. But for children, it can feel like just another day unless you bring the traditions to life.
That’s where crafts come in.
In this post, you’ll find fun and easy Lunar New Year crafts for kids that teach culture while sparking creativity. From paper lanterns to dragon puppets, these projects are simple, affordable, and perfect for homes or classrooms.
Each craft connects kids to important symbols like red envelopes, zodiac animals, and cherry blossoms. Ready to celebrate with color, laughter, and learning? Let’s get started.
What is the Lunar New Year, and Why It’s Special for Kids
The Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year based on the moon’s cycle. It’s celebrated across many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, and others.
Families gather to honor traditions, share meals, and welcome good fortune. The holiday represents fresh starts, happiness, and togetherness.
Why kids love the Lunar New Year:
- Bright red decorations fill homes and streets with color and energy
- Dragon and lion dances bring excitement with costumes, music, and movement
- Fireworks and firecrackers light up the night sky
- Special foods like dumplings and sweet rice cakes taste delicious
- Red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money or treats as gifts
- Zodiac animals teach kids about the 12-year cycle and their birth year animal
- Lantern festivals create a magical glow at night
- Family time means stories, games, and traditions passed down through generations
Lunar New Year crafts help kids connect with these customs in a hands-on way. They learn the meanings behind symbols as they create art to display or share.
Basic Materials for All Lunar New Year Crafts
Before the crafting fun begins, make sure you’re stocked with the right supplies! These basic materials will cover nearly all 16 crafts, making preparation easy and budget-friendly.
| Material | Use | Suggested Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Gold Construction Paper | Symbolizes luck and prosperity | Recycled wrapping paper |
| Glue Stick / Craft Glue | For assembling crafts | Double-sided tape |
| Scissors (Kid-Safe) | Cutting shapes and strips | Pre-cut templates |
| Markers / Crayons | Decorating banners, envelopes | Paints, colored pencils |
| String / Yarn | Hanging lanterns, puppets | Ribbon, twine |
| Paper Plates & Cups | For masks, drums, puppets | Cardboard circles |
| Tissue Paper | For cherry blossoms and lanterns | Crepe paper |
| Recycled Boxes / Cardboard | For dragons, trees, and 3D shapes | Cereal boxes |
| Glitter / Stickers | Adds sparkle and texture | Sequins, confetti |
| Hole Punch & Tape | For hanging decorations | Safety pins, clips |
Pro Tip: Keep a “craft box” ready with these essentials so kids can jump into creativity any time.
16 Fun & Easy Lunar New Year Crafts for Kids
Now that you know why these crafts matter, let’s get into the fun part. Here are 16 simple and creative Lunar New Year crafts that kids of all ages can make at home or in the classroom.
1. Paper Lanterns
Paper lanterns are a classic symbol of the Lunar New Year. They represent hope, light, and good fortune for the year ahead. Kids can fold and cut colorful paper to create beautiful hanging decorations.
How to make it:
- Fold a sheet of red or gold paper in half lengthwise
- Cut slits from the folded edge toward the open edge, leaving space at the top
- Open the paper, roll it into a cylinder, and glue the edges together
2. Dragon Puppet
Dragons are powerful symbols of strength and good luck in Chinese culture. This craft turns simple paper cups into a fun, moving puppet. Kids love making the dragon dance and wiggle.
How to make it:
- Paint or cover paper cups with red, gold, and green paper
- Attach cups together using a string or yarn through the small holes
- Add googly eyes, a paper tongue, and streamers for the tail
3. Lucky Red Envelopes (Hongbao)
Red envelopes are traditionally filled with money and given as gifts during the Lunar New Year. Kids can decorate their own envelopes and fill them with kind messages or drawings. It’s a sweet way to share happiness with family and friends.
How to make it:
- Fold red construction paper into an envelope shape and glue the sides
- Decorate with gold markers, stickers, or stamps featuring flowers and symbols
- Write wishes or draw pictures to place inside the envelope
4. Zodiac Animal Masks
Each Lunar New Year celebrates a different zodiac animal from the 12-year cycle. Making masks helps kids learn about their birth year animal. They can wear them during celebrations or use them for pretend play.
How to make it:
- Draw or print the zodiac animal face on a paper plate
- Color and decorate with markers, paint, or tissue paper
- Cut out eye holes and attach a popsicle stick or elastic string
5. Cherry Blossom Tree Art
Cherry blossoms represent renewal and beauty in Asian cultures. This craft combines painting and tissue paper for a textured art piece. It’s perfect for displaying on walls or windows.
How to make it:
- Paint tree branches on white or blue paper using brown paint
- Crumple small pieces of pink or white tissue paper into balls
- Glue the tissue paper balls onto the branches to create blossoms
6. Paper Firecracker Garland
Firecrackers are used to scare away bad luck and welcome the new year with noise and color. This garland mimics the look of traditional firecrackers. Hang it across doorways or walls for festive decor.
How to make it:
- Cut red paper into small rectangles and roll them into tubes
- Glue the edges and attach yellow tissue paper to one end for “flames”
- String the tubes together using yarn or ribbon
7. Gold Coin Tree
Gold coins symbolize wealth and prosperity for the coming year. This craft creates a tree decorated with shiny paper coins. Kids can make wishes as they glue each coin onto the branches.
How to make it:
- Draw or print a tree outline on cardboard or poster board
- Cut circles from gold or yellow paper to look like coins
- Glue the coins all over the tree branches
8. Handprint Dragon
Handprint crafts are always a hit with young children. This dragon uses traced hands as colorful scales. It’s a personal keepsake that captures how small their hands were.
How to make it:
- Trace both hands multiple times on different colored paper and cut them out
- Arrange the handprints in a curved line to form the dragon’s body
- Add a paper dragon head at the front and a tail at the end
9. Fan Painting
Decorative fans are part of traditional Asian art and celebrations. Kids can paint their own designs on folded paper fans. Cranes, bamboo, and cherry blossoms are popular choices.
How to make it:
- Fold a piece of paper accordion-style to create pleats
- Paint designs like flowers, animals, or patterns on the folded paper
- Staple or tape the bottom together and fan out the top
10. Good Luck Banner
Banners with wishes and symbols are hung in homes to invite good fortune. The character “福” (Fu) means luck and happiness. Kids can practice writing it or create their own New Year messages.
How to make it:
- Cut red paper into rectangles or diamond shapes
- Write “福” or “Happy New Year” using gold or black markers
- String the shapes together with ribbon or yarn to hang
11. Zodiac Wheel Spinner
A zodiac wheel teaches kids about the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. This interactive craft spins to reveal each animal. It’s both educational and fun.
How to make it:
- Draw a large circle on cardboard and divide it into 12 sections
- Draw or glue pictures of each zodiac animal in the sections
- Attach a spinner arrow in the center using a paper fastener
12. Origami Fortune Fish
Fish represent abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture. Folding origami fish is a calming activity that improves fine motor skills. Hang several fish together for a mobile decoration.
How to make it:
- Fold a square piece of paper following basic origami fish instructions
- Decorate the fish with markers, stickers, or glitter
- Attach a string to the top and hang from a branch or hanger
13. Chinese Knot Decoration
Chinese knots are traditional symbols of unity and good fortune. These woven decorations are seen during celebrations and year-round in homes. Kids can make simple versions using yarn or ribbon.
How to make it:
- Cut three long strands of red or gold yarn and tie them together at one end
- Braid the strands tightly or weave them in a simple pattern
- Tie the ends together and add beads or tassels for decoration
14. Lion Dance Mask
Lion dances are performed alongside dragon dances to bring joy and scare away bad spirits. Kids can create their own colorful lion mask for pretend parades. It’s bold, bright, and full of character.
How to make it:
- Use a large paper bag or cardboard as the base for the lion’s face
- Paint it in bright colors like orange, yellow, red, or gold
- Add googly eyes, a big mouth, and fluffy yarn or paper strips for the mane
15. Paper Plate Pellet Drum
Pellet drums make a rattling sound when shaken back and forth. They’re traditional toys used during festivals. Kids enjoy both making and playing with this noisy craft.
How to make it:
- Decorate two paper plates with red and gold paint or paper
- Place beads or small bells between the plates and glue or staple the edges
- Attach two strings with beads on the ends to the sides of the drum
16. Firework Painting
Fireworks light up the sky during Lunar New Year celebrations. This painting technique creates colorful bursts on paper. It’s a messy, joyful art activity that kids love.
How to make it:
- Dip the end of a plastic straw into paint (red, gold, yellow, orange)
- Stamp the straw onto black or dark blue paper in circular patterns
- Repeat with different colors to create layered firework effects
Pro Tip: Let kids choose 3 to 5 crafts to complete during your Lunar New Year celebration. This keeps them engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
Tips to Make Crafting Educational and Fun
After creating these colorful and meaningful Lunar New Year crafts, it’s time to make the experience even more special. Let’s explore how to turn crafting into a fun, educational moment for kids.
- Tell the story behind each craft: Share why dragons bring luck, how red envelopes started, or what each zodiac animal represents to make crafting meaningful.
- Play Lunar New Year music during crafting: Put on traditional songs or instrumental music to create a festive atmosphere that makes kids feel connected to the celebration.
- Encourage teamwork: Have siblings or classmates work together on large projects, such as murals or garlands, to build cooperation and sharing skills.
- Teach greetings: Show kids how to write “Xīn Nián Kuài Lè” (Happy New Year) or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Wishing you prosperity) on their banners and cards.
- Be inclusive: Explain that Vietnam celebrates Tết, Korea celebrates Seollal, and other countries have their own special ways of welcoming the Lunar New Year.
Display and Share Your Lunar Crafts Creations
Once the crafts are complete, it’s time to show them off and spread the joy.
Hang paper lanterns, fish, and banners around your home or classroom using string or tape to create a festive space filled with color.
Kids can gift their handmade red envelopes, masks, or painted fans to grandparents, teachers, or friends as heartfelt tokens of good wishes.
Taking photos of the finished projects and sharing them on social media with hashtags like #LunarNewYearCrafts or #KidsCelebrateLunarNewYear connects your family to a larger community celebrating together.
Displaying these creations not only decorates your space but also reminds everyone of the fun, learning, and traditions shared during this special time.
Looking Ahead
These Lunar New Year crafts for kids are more than just fun activities. They’re a way to connect with culture, share family traditions, and create lasting memories together.
From making dragon puppets to painting fireworks, each craft teaches children about symbols, stories, and the joy of celebration.
This Lunar New Year, choose a few crafts that excite your kids the most and do them together. Display the finished pieces with joy and share your creations with loved ones.
Which craft will you try first? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share your photos using #LunarNewYearCrafts.
Happy celebrating!
