About Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Asia and among Asian diaspora communities worldwide. The Lunar New Year is based on the lunar calendar, where each month begins with a new moon. The exact date varies from year to year but typically falls between late January and mid-February.
Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, which adds symbolic meaning to the festivities. For example, the year 2024 is the year of Dragon🐉, and 2025 is the year of Snake 🐍, and 2026 is the year of Horse🐴. As Lunar New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it represents a symbolic shift from the old to the new and is a time for families to reunite. Themes of prosperity, good fortune, and happiness are central to the celebration.
Traditionally in China, the celebrations start with the Reunion Dinner on New Year’s Eve, when families gather for a feast featuring dishes that symbolize good luck and prosperity, like fish and dumplings. Homes are adorned with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cutouts, all believed to bring good fortune. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to ward off evil spirits and usher in the new year with a bang. The festival culminates with the Lantern Festival, where dragon and lion dances bring vibrant energy to the streets, and people light lanterns to mark the end of the festivities. Throughout the celebration, it’s customary for elders to give red envelopes (红包 hóngbāo🧧) containing money to children and younger relatives, signifying blessings and good fortune for the coming year.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries, each with its own unique customs and traditions. In South Korea, it is known as Seollal, which involves traditional games, folk dances, and rituals to honor ancestors. Families often wear hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, and enjoy festive meals together. In Vietnam, it is called Tết Nguyên Đán, with similar family gatherings and traditions. Mongolia celebrates Tsagaan Sar, where families come together to prepare and enjoy traditional foods like dumplings. In Singapore, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries, Lunar New Year is a vibrant celebration, often incorporating a mix of Chinese and local customs. For instance, in Singapore, the River Hongbao festival features parades, performances, and elaborate decorations.
In metropolitan cities around the world with significant Asian populations, like London, where there is a China Town, the Lunar New Year festivities are open to all, showcasing parades, fireworks, and cultural events that celebrate the rich heritage of the festival. Ultimately, Lunar New Year is a time for people of various backgrounds to embrace the spirit of renewal, unity, and hope. It offers a chance for communities to come together, regardless of cultural origin, and share in the joyous celebration.
“Celebrating Asia’s most important festival is a gateway to connecting with Asian cultures.”
“Dear Asia offers a gala celebration of culture through learning, hands-on making, and meaningful connection.”
Book a bespoke workshop
Heads • Hands • Hearts
At Dear Asia, each cultural celebration is never a small undertaking. Our entire team comes together to craft signature experiences designed for meaningful impact and lasting impressions. We want every guest at our events to see, feel, learn, taste, and create — to connect genuinely with Asian cultures through immersive, multi-sensory experiences.
That’s why every Dear Asia event is built around three core elements – Heads, Hands and Hearts.
How does it work?
At Dear Asia, we design our cultural events like vibrant, interactive fun fairs — adaptable for groups of any size through a series of themed activity stations.
Each station offers a meaningful window into Asian culture, whether through festival food and drink tastings with live storytelling, or cultural demonstrations like tea-making, complete with etiquette and context. Our craft stations invite guests to get hands-on with creative activities tailored to the cultural occasion. We offer both beginner-friendly and more advanced options, all guided by experienced instructors. Traditional arts such as calligraphy, ink painting, paper cutting, and origami can also be included to enrich the experience. For deeper immersion, we can also offer traditional costume try-ons and interactive learning stations with quizzes and games that make cultural discovery engaging and fun.
Each year, we create something fresh to celebrate the Lunar New Year — and in 2026, the Year of the Horse, we’re bringing new energy and creative craft experiences to your team. Celebrate with Dear Asia and mark the start of early spring with color, culture, and meaningful connection. Our workshops are designed to be hands-on, joyful, and rooted in tradition, making them a perfect way to welcome the new year.
We cater to team sizes of 20 to 80 people and staff accordingly to ensure each participant is fully engaged and has a complete experience. Lunar New Year week tends to book up quickly, so we recommend getting in touch early to secure your preferred date. Let’s make your celebration spirited, memorable, and full of good fortune.
What we can do
Our client reviews
Read reviews from our clients to see how our cultural workshops have made a positive impact on workplace cultural diversity.
What a fantastic event. I have had several colleagues approach me to tell that it was their favorite event they’ve been to!
Everyone at the event gave the most positive feedback about the session and are dying to have you guys come back for other events.
I’m very pleased with how the workshop turned out. Everyone loved the mooncakes and tea, and had a fantastic time. Thanks for the quiz prizes as well.
We’ve invited Dear Asia to run events for our teams two years in a row, and they’ve been fantastic each time. We definitely recommend them.
Our Festive Celebration Events
Keep an eye on our calendar, and you’ll find that we have festival celebrations throughout the year, bringing you a taste of Asian culture and heritage.
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December 12
Double 12 – Dear Asia Xmas Party 2025!!!
More about Asian Festivals & Cultures
Find out our blog writing offering you insights about asian festivals from history, background to ideas of how to celebrate with your team to promote culture diversity in your company.
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Bespoke cultural workshops for companies
Explore our range of workshops on Asian cultures, perfect for your next team-building event or cultural learning session at work.
Best of Asia Zen Crafting
Our Asian Zen crafting workshop is thoughtfully crafted to offer a serene experience that fosters a connection with the rich arts and crafts of Asian heritage. Through engaging in these gentle crafting activities, we aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for Asian aesthetics while providing a serene space for individuals to find tranquility in the creative process. The workshop covers a range of practices, including Japanese origami, Chinese calligraphy, and Korean embroidery, promoting not only inner peace but also the creation of beautiful, meaningful art, resulting in a profound sense of accomplishment with each creation.
Best of Asia Drink Tasting
Our “Best of Asia” drink tasting workshop presents a delightful opportunity to acquaint your team with a variety of unique drinks and exotic flavors. We’re excited to share with you a carefully curated selection of beverages from various regions of Asia, each boasting its distinct taste profiles and potential mixing options. During this engaging workshop, we not only explore these intriguing flavors but also delve into the rich tapestry of Asian drinking culture. Your team will gain insights into the customs, traditions, and even fun drinking games that are integral to these cultures.
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