Exploring new cultures is the best thing. If you can’t leave your hometown, the good news is you can use social media and your local community to explore things around you. In our home, we love Chinese New Year. We love the bright red decorations, the exciting traditions, and most of all… the red packets! Chinese New Year is a special celebration that marks the start of a new year based on the lunar calendar, and in 2026 it begins on February 17. This year welcomes the Year of the Horse, an animal that represents energy, adventure, and confidence. Even kids can feel that exciting “fresh start” feeling when Chinese New Year arrives.
Chinese New Year is also called Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, and it’s celebrated by families all over the world. Before the holiday, people often clean their homes to sweep away old luck and make room for good fortune. Homes are decorated with red and gold because red is believed to bring happiness, luck, and protection. During the celebration, families gather to eat delicious food, spend time together, and wish each other health and joy for the year ahead.
One of the most exciting traditions for children is receiving red packets, also called hongbao. These are bright red envelopes usually given by parents, grandparents, or other adults. Inside is money, but the most important part isn’t how much is inside, it’s the loving wish for good luck, happiness, and success in the new year. Kids often wait eagerly for these envelopes and opening them feels like a little burst of magic and celebration.
The Year of the Horse makes this Chinese New Year extra fun to talk about with kids. Horses are known for being fast, strong, and adventurous, so it’s a great time to encourage children to be brave, try new things, and run toward their dreams. You can even ask kids what kind of year they hope to have — a year full of fun, learning, kindness, or exciting adventures.
To celebrate at home, a simple and meaningful craft kids can do is making their own lucky red envelope. Using red paper, fold it into an envelope shape and glue or tape the sides, leaving the top open. Kids can decorate their envelopes with drawings of horses, gold designs, sparkles, or even try writing the Chinese character 福 (fú), which means good luck. Inside, they can place a handwritten wish, a drawing, or a pretend coin. It’s a lovely way for kids to understand the tradition while creating something personal and festive.
Chinese New Year is a celebration filled with color, joy, and hope, and sharing these traditions at home helps children learn about the world while making warm family memories. Whether it’s opening red packets, making crafts, or simply talking about the Year of the Horse, it’s a beautiful reminder that a new year always brings new possibilities.
There are several celebrations happening in Montgomery County:
In Rockville, Richard Montgomery High School will have cultural performances, interactive displays, and kid-friendly activities. Safeway’s 5th annual celebration features lion dances, live music, face painting, and food samples from Asian brands like Fly By Jing and Kikkoman.
In Bethesda, Westfield Montgomery hosts the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center’s celebration with dragon and lion dances, calligraphy blessings, clay dumpling crafts, and red envelope giveaways. Strathmore’s Music Center offers a festive concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, while Connie Morella Library invites children to storytime, crafts, and songs.
Gaithersburg brings a unique twist with the Mintd Card Show at the Marriott Washingtonian Center—featuring Pokémon vendors, raffles, and Lunar New Year-themed prizes. Across the county, you can also support local Asian restaurants, bakeries, and bubble tea shops to keep the celebration going.
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