Ring in the Year of the Dragon with DLK. (designlifekids.com)
The holiday season might be all wrapped up, but already, there’s another celebration to be had: the Lunar New Year. Every year, sometime between late January and early February, an estimated 2 billion people across the world — many in East and Southeast Asian cultures — celebrate this occasion, commemorating the first new moon of the lunar calendar. The 15-day holiday marks the start of a new annual cycle and is a way to welcome the beginning of Spring. This year’s #LunarNewYear starts on February 10th.
Similar to how the annual new year starts on January 1st, it is a time to celebrate new beginnings with family and friends, food, gifts, and plenty of festivities — featuring firecrackers, lanterns, and more. Families prepare for the holiday by cleaning the home to wash away bad luck from the previous year and allow for good luck to enter.
Here are 5 things to know about the Lunar New Year:
2024 is the Year of the Dragon.
Powerful, bold, and a friend of the skies, the dragon—one of the fiercest creatures of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals—represents good fortune, strength, and health. Those born under the year of the dragon (1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024) are said to exhibit a confident, decisive spirit. They have ample amounts of energy, inspiring those around them, and are known to be charismatic, intelligent, and naturally gifted.
If your little one holds similar qualities or just wants to embrace their inner dragon, look no further. These dragon-inspired pieces are perfect for embracing the mythological beast and celebrating the Year of the Dragon.
This simple costume, featuring an adorable dragon ear headband and dragon print playsilk, makes a great gift for an aspiring young dragon. Who, where, or what they can become is limitless, which allows our costume pieces to grow with the unique creative needs of each child and provides them with many years of lasting play value.
Dragon Buddy Doll, Dragonflies Tee
For the love of dragons and catching fireflies. This short sleeve tee features a rad take on combining the two in a unique print on a relaxed fit, super-soft tri-blend tee in an olive green. Pair it with the most huggable dragon you are likely to ever come across. Buddy Dragon is as loyal as he is brave - he will follow your little boy through thick and thin, comforting and protecting him, as together, they bravely venture into the world!
Family travels home to visit relatives and friends.
On New Year’s Eve, family members, some of whom have traveled long distances to return home, gather for a reunion. The celebration begins with a reunion feast — the biggest and most important feast of the year. For the next several days, people follow the custom of exchanging visits — with close relatives first, then with distant relatives and friends. You can take part in this tradition by planning your own gathering and making celebratory dishes for the holiday.
Food plays a special role during the festivities.
During the Lunar New Year, many foods are symbolic of luck and prosperity. For example, ring-shaped foods are said to be symbolic of the year coming full circle. For your New Year’s breakfast, indulge in a tasty bundt cake or classic donut. Soba noodles are traditionally slurped up for the Lunar New Year and symbolize longevity. The longer the noodle, the longer the life. Just be careful not to break the noodles on the way from the bowl to your mouth! Other foods include pomegranates for good fortune, pork for prosperity, and whole fish for wholesome months ahead.
Also, dumplings, a key part of celebrations, symbolize longevity and wealth. The pockets are stuffed with all sorts of fillings, from pork to fish to vegetables. If you have had them before, you know how good they are. Many restaurants and cultural centers even hold dumpling making nights, so be sure to check out your local offerings to see what is taking place.
From donuts to dumplings, you can spend the day making delicious meals from foods considered lucky. There’s something for everyone in a Lunar New Year spread: sweet and savory, crunchy and soft, meat and vegetarian.
It is impolite to visit someone without bringing a gift.
Just like when you visit someone’s house for the first time, it is proper etiquette to bring a host gift to gatherings during the holiday. It is a sign of respect to give something meaningful and unique during the first few days of the year.
Tea holds a long history and cultural value in Asia. This humble beverage is a great gift as it is considered a healthy drink only emperors and officials originally enjoyed. Everyone can enjoy the delicious taste of tea and its benefits on health, along with various tea selections. Pair it with a tea set for a timeless, aesthetically pleasing, and functional surprise.
You could always get a special tea set for the little ones too!
The most beautiful toy tea set we've ever seen! Made of beechwood and coated with Biofa solid oil. The oil has a European certificate and complies with the standard for the coating of children's toys. Beautifully crafted and designed to be your favorite heirloom toy to be passed down for generations.
Know someone who loves dumplings, adorable plushies, or food trucks? What if we told you that you could have (or give someone) a dumpling to keep forever… YOU can!
Ricedumpling Mini Plush, Dumpling Van, Matte Black Nordic Saute Pot, Slim Bamboo Chopsticks
Super squishy Ricedumpling loves playing with their friends, even if sometimes they're a bit too enthusiastic. Made from super soft fabric with extra stuffing for that perfect squish, Ricedumpling is decorated with the sweetest embroidered details and topped off with little flappy arms - adorable! This plushie comes with a velcro strap and a fabric keyring loop, so you can attach them anywhere and take them with you on the go. Ricedumpling is sure to become your new best friend. Just the right size for babies, young children, and collectors!
Savory goodness, beautifully packaged – our new Dumpling Van also makes for a great gift! Featuring a delectable silicone dumpling topper, Golden Lotus is steaming hot and ready to roll, serving up the best dumplings in town.
For those interested in the “whole fish for wholesale months ahead” superstition, our Tinned Fish Candle is the perfect gift. And it smells so GOOD!
Whether you are a sardine lover (no, it does not smell like them!), a maritime enthusiast, a candle lover seeking something different, or you are searching for the perfect quirky gift, the Original Tinned Fish Candle is guaranteed to catch the eye and spark conversation. Made from high-quality, eco-friendly soy wax, it burns cleanly and evenly, adding a warm, soothing ambiance to any room with its candlelight and seaside breeze fragrance.
Maybe you know someone who is obsessed with miniature, cute things? Us too.
Chinese Foods Eraser Set, Family Restaurant Eraser Set, Smiski Series 1, Dragon Rattle Doll
These premium quality eco-friendly Chinese puzzle eraser toys are made in Japan and put together by hand! They are the cutest and a collector's must have. Great for stocking stuffers, party favors, doll house decor, and all the things!
It is tradition to hand out red envelopes of money.
After New Year’s Eve dinner, it is customary to give out vibrant red envelopes containing money, which are known as hongbao in Mandarin, lai see in Cantonese, or lì xì in Vietnamese.
Generally, the elderly give red envelopes — filled with a mysterious amount of lucky money — which are supposed to suppress evil spirits and convey sincere wishes for good luck. Adults give red envelopes to their elderly parents to wish them good health and a long life. You can fill the envelopes with lucky denominations, such as 200, 600, 800, or 900. Additionally, avoid bad luck numbers, anything with the number 4, the unluckiest of all numbers.
Shop Our Party Collection
Get your Lunar New Year festivities off to the right start by shopping our Party Collection. From party decor to favors and gifts for kids and adults, there are countless options to bring your Lunar New Year party to life. Let us know what your favorites are and tag us on Instagram using @designlifekids and #designlifekids.