Dos and Don’ts for Celebrating Chinese New Year

The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is a vibrant time of year filled with bright colours, delicious scents, and a sense of fresh beginnings. Whether you are a parent at home, a nursery manager, or a teacher, this festival offers a wonderful way to broaden a child’s horizons and build their communication skills.

At MANDO SCHOOL, we see how much joy children find in these traditions. Here is a practical guide on the "dos and don’ts" to help you celebrate authentically while supporting early development.

The "Dos" for a Lucky Start

Do dress in bright red

Red is the most important colour during the festival because it symbolises energy and good fortune.

• The activity: Encourage children to wear something red. If you are at home, you might even put a red ribbon on a favourite toy.

• The benefit: This simple act helps children feel part of a wider community and builds their understanding of cultural symbols.

Do give "Hongbao" (Red Envelopes)

Giving red envelopes is a core tradition. Usually, these contain money, but for young learners, they can hold stickers or "lucky" tokens.

• The activity: Let children practice handing the envelope with two hands as a sign of respect.

• The benefit: This teaches social etiquette and fine motor skills through the act of opening and closing the small envelopes.

Do share a "reunion" meal

The New Year is all about family and togetherness.

• The activity: Try a simple meal of dumplings or noodles. Noodles are special because their length represents a long and healthy life.

• The benefit: Exploring new textures and flavours is a fantastic sensory experience that builds confidence in trying new things.

The "Don’ts" to Keep the Luck In

Don’t reach for the scissors

Traditional folklore suggests that using scissors or knives on the first day of the New Year can "cut" the threads of good fortune.

• The tip: Complete any craft projects or food prep the day before. On the big day, focus on enjoying the results rather than the "work" of cutting.

Don’t sweep the floor

Sweeping on New Year's Day is often avoided because people believe you might sweep your brand-new luck right out of the front door!

• The tip: Use this as a fun way to explain "luck" to children. Have a big tidy-up the evening before so everything is fresh and ready for the morning.

Bring the Magic of Mandarin Home or to School

While the festival is a highlight of the year, the benefits of learning Mandarin and exploring Chinese culture continue every day. At MANDO SCHOOL, we provide a bridge to this beautiful language through story-led and play-based learning.

We offer:

• Nursery and Early Years sessions for children aged 2 to 5.

• Primary school clubs and MFL curriculum support.

• Interactive online classes that make learning accessible from anywhere.

Our classes are designed to boost memory, improve listening skills, and foster a lifelong love for global communication.