Lunar New Year, aka Chinese New Year, is a celebration of the beginning of the lunisolar Chinese calendar. If you didn’t know, there are many calendars throughout the world. This is my first year celebrating Chinese New Year. I felt inspired and creative so I made DIY Lunar New Year Decorations. I just had to share the printables I created and how I used them.
You may have heard before that years will coordinate with an animal. This is true. There are 12 animals and they cycle in a specific order. They not only represent the year, but your personality and predictions for the year are based on the animal of the year you were born in. I was born in the year of the Horse. My husband and kiddo are Dragons. And wouldn’t you know, it’s the year of the Dragon!
The less self centered my perception is, the more aware I am to differences around the world. One difference I recently was made aware of is calendars. I couldn’t remember if we were on the Julian or Gregorian calendar. I came out of that search with so much knowledge. Before, I had never considered that other people may be using different calendars. I am now aware of and appreciate lunar based calendars.
With that I learned that China celebrates New Year with a Spring festival. I love the idea of welcoming the New Year with the season of newness and rebirth. It just so happens I learned this right before Chinese New Year festivities began. I’m still learning, I always will be. I wanted to share a snippet of what I learned, what it inspired, and links to all the fantastic sources I recommend viewing.
Before The New Year
There’s much more to the traditions than what I have here and it varies from family to family and culture to culture. Three major activities to be done before the stroke of midnight: Cleaning the home from top to bottom, Settling any debts, Gather with family for dinner and celebrations.
Common Decorations and Their Purpose:
Below is a concise explanation of some of the common motifs and symbols seen in Chinese new year decorations
- The Color Red: Considered auspicious and lucky and thought to ward off bad luck. There’s also an interesting story about red and Nian. You should read about that here.
- Red Lanterns: Are meant to guide good luck in and ward off bad luck (and Nian).
- Gold Ingot: Because one hopes for wealth to come in the new year, gold ingots are oftentimes displayed to welcome good fortune. They are representative of Sycee or Yuanbao, an ancient form of currency.
- Chinese Coins: Are also commonly used because of their representative of wealth.
- Flowers: (Plum Blossoms, Peach Blossoms, Peonies, Orchids) Chinese new year is also the start of the spring festival. Decorating with blossoms and flowers symbolizes the renewal regrowth of Spring. Specific flowers have deeper connections and meanings.
- Oranges: (Mandarins, Pomelos) They are considered lucky for their golden color and their round shape.
- Firecrackers: The loud sound is believed to invite positivity and scare off negativity.
- Fish: The Chinese pronunciation is the same as another word that means “surplus.” Therefore fish are eaten and used in decorating to usher in an excess of good fortune.
- Spring Couplets: Poetry to demonstrate the wishes of the family for the new year. Read about the history and customs around Couplets here.
- Chinese Knots: There are many knots and symbolism can vary. Check out the rich history of Chinese knots here. Most of the time, the knots seen during Lunar New Year are for good fortune.
- Upside-Down Fu: The Fu character means good luck or blessings. It’s thought that by turning it upside down, it symbolizes the pouring in of good fortune.
- Auspicious Plants: (Kumquat Plant, Pussy Willow, Lucky Bamboo) Broadly symbolize good fortune but read about special associations with specific plants here.
DIY Lunar New Year Decorations
Supplies:
Black Paint | Red Paint | Glue | Craft Knife | Scissors | Paint Brush | Gold Ribbon | Felt Sheets (Orange, Green, Pink, Black) | Posterboard | Sticker Paper | Optional: Gold Glitter Paper
Printables:
How To Make:
Auspicious Felt Shapes Garland
Carefully cut out printed shapes from peel and stick paper.
Peel the shape from backing and stick the shape to felt.
Carefully cut out the shape from felt following the sticker guide.
Glue leaf shape to orange.
Attach felt shaped blossoms and oranges to string for hanging.
Gold Glitter Dragon Banner
Carefully cut out dragon from printable printed on peel and stick paper.
Peel and stick the dragon sticker to the backside of glitter paper.
Carefully cut out dragon from glitter paper following the sticker guide.
Brush adhesive onto back of dragon cut out
Press firmly onto felt sheet.
Attach felt to string for hanging.
Gold Ribbon Paper Lanterns
Cut gold ribbon in lengths long enough to cover top and bottom of lantern.
Then, cut a shorter length for hanging.
Lastly, cut long lengths for hanging at bottom of lantern.
Brush glue onto top inch of lantern.
Loop the shorter length and press into glue at top of lantern.
Press top strips of ribbon into glue over loop.
Press long lengths hanging out from center bottom of lantern.
Add more glue if drying out.
Press bottom strips of ribbon into glue over ends of long lengths.
Upside down Fu and Spring Character Lanterns
Carefully cut out printed characters from peel and stick paper.
Paint the character cut out while keeping backing on.
Peel the character from backing and stick to lantern once dried.
Bonus: Lantern with Felt Shapes Applique
Carefully cut out printed shapes from peel and stick paper.
Peel the shape from backing and stick the shape to felt.
Carefully cut out the shape from felt following the sticker guide.
Remove felt from sticker.
Apply adhesive to back of felt shape and press into place on lantern.
Sources I Consulted:
Because I am not native and have never celebrated before this year, I wanted to get information as close to the source as possible. Here are some of the blogs and articles I read.
- China Culture Corner: Decorations
- China Culture Corner: Symbols
- China Culture Corner: Door Decorating
- Travel China Guide: Traditional vs Modern Decorations
- Feng Shui Web: Good Fortune Signs
- Asia One: Modern Decorations
- The HK Hub: Plants and Trees
- Pandanese: New Year Symbols
- Lifestyle Asia: Lucky Houseplants
- Son Of China: Knot Symbolism
- China Highlights: Good Luck Decorations
- Color and Chic: Decorating
- Lingo Ace: Decorations
- Be: Easy Decorations
- Lam Museum of Anthropology: Traditions
More DIYs To Try:
- Cocoo: Flower craft, ox craft
- Mama Baby Mandarin: Kid friendly DIYs
- DIY with Tina (Video Playlist): lanterns, wreath, wall decoration, paper fortune cookies, cash envelopes
- Happy Bee Art’s and Crafts (Video Playlist): Lanterns, fans, animals, ornaments
- Vinn Pang (Video): Flowers, paper fan, paper cuttings, lantern, spring couplets
Thank you so much for taking the time to view my ideas for DIY Lunar New Year Decorations. There is so much inspiration and information out there. I hope I’ve added value to the void. Please be sure to check out the links to other blogs and sites. A lot of time and effort went into sharing their knowledge and I think you’ll really appreciate them.
