A guide to Chinese New Year celebrations around the world

For the Asian and Asian-American communities in New York, Chinese New Year is a meaningful time that brings families and friends together. It’s a time when people gather over hearty festive feasts, honouring the customs that make this holiday special. While it may not be a public holiday for the rest of the US, the celebrations invite everyone, regardless of background, to partake in this huge festival.

If you're in New York and want to dive into the festivities, consider checking out the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown (2025 marks its 27th anniversary!), where dragon dancing, firecrackers, and martial arts performances will create an electric atmosphere. You can also explore various events across neighbourhoods, from cultural workshops at the China Institute in Lower Manhattan to lion dance performances at the Brooklyn Museum. And if you’re eager to treat your taste buds, head over to one of the many Chinese restaurants in Chinatown such as House of Joy to enjoy classic cart-style dim sum or traditional dishes like dumplings, which symbolise wealth and prosperity. Whatever you choose to do, these events will give you a true perspective into the holiday's customs and significance.

Across the Atlantic, Chinese New Year in London has evolved from a small community gathering in Chinatown during the 1970s into a lively festival celebrated throughout the city. Each year, thousands of revellers will flock to the West End to attend this massive street party, featuring lion and dragon parades, cultural shows with martial arts and traditional dances, as well as Chinese pop performances.

During this time, restaurants in Chinatown will offer traditional dishes symbolising good fortune, including auspicious foods like dumplings, fish, chicken, and noodles, each carrying its own meaning. These multi-generational restaurants are key in these celebrations, as they serve as community hubs where families gather to share meals, continue traditions, and create lasting memories.

London’s diverse Asian communities also take part in these celebrations, with various cultures adding their own traditions and flavours. Malaysians and Singaporeans would celebrate over ‘prosperity salad’ (or yusheng), which has to be tossed before eating to symbolise an abundant and prosperous year ahead, while Vietnamese people might enjoy square sticky rice cakes called banh chung. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, joining the festivities in London is a wonderful way to connect with various cultures and communities, right in the heart of UK.

Chinese New Year is Hong Kong’s most significant festival, celebrated with vibrant customs and traditions that typically last until the 15th day of the lunar calendar, with each day having its own symbolic meaning. For example, the first day is reserved for family reunions, where people exchange auspicious greetings, often starting with elder relatives. Married couples give out red pockets to single folks and children, which are sometimes placed under their pillows for good luck in the coming year. Some families also eat vegetarian dishes for their first meal to help ‘cleanse’ the body. As for the third day, it is said that arguments are likely to happen, so many people prefer to stay home to avoid conflicts. And on the 15th day, also known as ‘yuen siu’, the festivities culminate with a lantern festival, where lantern displays and riddle games bring friends and family together.

For those unfamiliar, plenty of festivities happen throughout the holiday period. A must-visit is the flower markets, filled with festive knick-knacks, street eats, and auspicious blooms. Fireworks also light up the night sky on the second day of Chinese New Year, and a dazzling parade with giant floats and performers takes place every year. Another popular local tradition is the Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival, where visitors would tie their wishes to a mandarin and toss them onto the legendary wishing tree. 

Food, of course, plays a vital role during Chinese New Year, with various traditional snacks enjoyed for their symbolic meanings. Chinese New Year pudding and radish cakes are eaten as the Cantonese word for pudding/cake, ‘goh,’ is a homophone for the word ‘height’, which can apply to aspects like luck, success, and growth. Other treats, like ‘yau kok’ are fried pastries shaped like gold ingots to symbolise wealth, while candied winter melons are enjoyed for its meaning of a good start and end to the year. This blend of customs, community spirit, and delicious food makes Chinese New Year in Hong Kong a truly unique and memorable experience.

Chinese New Year is undoubtedly the most important holiday in China, and Shanghai perfectly captures the excitement and cultural richness of this celebration. Among the festivities, many folks head to the annual lantern festival at Yu Yuan Gardens, filled with stunning lantern installations inspired by themes of nature, animals, and the Chinese zodiac sign of the coming year.

Another highlight is Longhua Temple, where locals and tourists gather to witness the bell-ringing ceremony. An enormous bronze bell is struck 108 times as it is believed to eliminate bad spirits and signal a good start to the year – but visiting this historic site goes beyond religious practice. Throughout the festival, the temple grounds also host an array of festivities featuring live music, cultural performances, and stalls selling traditional snacks and souvenirs.

However, perhaps the most cherished tradition of all, is gathering with family over festive meals, often planned months in advance. In Shanghai, families prepare dumplings filled with symbolic ingredients like peanuts for health and longevity, and dates for sweet days ahead. Fish is also eaten to represent abundant wealth, success, and fortune. Some families even hide a coin inside a dumpling or shape the dumplings like gold ingots – a delightful tradition that signifies wealth and prosperity for those lucky enough to bite into them.