I’ve started our own little Created By Christine x Lunar New Year tradition!
Over the past few years, I’ve been creating LNY themed sticker templates free for anyone to download. Check out the previous ones (CBC x LNY 2023 & CBC x LNY 2024) and stay tuned to the end of this post for this year’s sticker design to create YOUR OWN STICKERS!
Lunar New Year Countdown
10, 9, 8… wait… this isn’t what Lunar New Year sounds like! Let’s try that again.
There is no NYC Times Square Ball Drop or countdown like on January 1st, but rather, the Lunar New Year is welcomed in by the sounds of hot oil sputtering on wok, shrimp chips crunching as we sneak a snack, and hollering Cantonese across the kitchen mixed with the occasional debate of whose cooking style will taste better. This marks the beginning of 15 days of celebration.
LNY Eve is the most important part of this holiday for my family where we all gather for a feast that reminds us of our blessings and accomplishments of the past year.
Traditionally, the 15 days are designated to honor different figures of Chinese mythology, perform dragon dances, visit certain family members on certain days, pay respects, clean, eat symbolic food, and prepare for the Lantern Festival on the last day. The festivities end on the 15th day because the lunar cycle reaches a full moon.
My Family Celebration
Each year we also…
- Wear and decorate with red to represent good fortune for a good life.
- Exchange pairs of mandarin oranges to symbolically spread wealth. I’ve been told that this is because the Mandarin words for the oranges and “wealth” sound similar.
- Eat “fot-goh”- a dessert for prosperity because the “cupcake top” opens up as it bakes which represents overflowing abundance. (See a photo of last year’s below!)
- Eat “longevity noodles” for well… a long life! Traditionally, it is one very long noodle that shouldn't be cut before eating it.
- Give & receive pairs of lucky red envelopes with money inside. Older and married adults usually give to the others. Now that I’m married, tradition says I am part of the giving group too! My husband and I give to the younger and unmarried.
Whether it’s oranges or red envelopes, everything needs to be in pairs! Even when physically exchanging these, both people should exchange with both hands because even numbers are believed to be good luck.
Slithering into the New Year
Out of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, this will be the 6th in the cycle- the Year of the Snake. Though snakes are often portrayed as scary creatures, it is seen as elegant in the Chinese culture.
People born in the Year of the Snake are considered rational, thoughtful, and loyal. It is also associated with wisdom, creativity, transformation, and rebirth.
Which Zodiac animal are you? Let me know in the comments below! Here’s a chart of birth years with their matching animals.
Let’s Celebrate Together!
What started out as something I would make for each of my students to introduce them to a different culture, has turned into something beautiful that I can now share with you too!
I grew up seeing my grandparents decorate their plants by hanging lucky red envelopes like ornaments on a Christmas tree each year. Plus, this being the Year of the Snake inspired me while designing the sticker- a snake plant decorated with red envelopes!
As requested, here are this year’s digital sticker files so you can make your own LNY stickers to celebrate and share too (personal use only please). I also wrote a blog post to get started with making handmade stickers!
DOWNLOAD FREEBIE STICKER FILE HERE.
Whether you’re looking to add a festive touch to decorate your notebook or give to friends and family, these stickers are a fun and easy way for you to embrace the spirit of the season. I'd love to see your creations! Tag me on instagram @createdbychristine so I can see!
(That's Teddy, grandparents' dog, dressed up in his Chinese New Year fit)
Wishing you good fortune and happiness,
Christine