Creative Ways to Celebrate Spring Festival / Lunar New Year at the Office

The Spring Festival, also known as Lunar New Year, is one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in Asia. It’s a time for family, friends, food, and reflection and increasingly, workplaces around the world are finding fun and meaningful ways to celebrate it in the office. Not only does celebrating the festival boost morale and create a sense of community, it also gives teams a chance to experience a rich cultural tradition, learn about different customs, and have some fun together.

If you’re planning to mark the Lunar New Year at your office, there are plenty of creative ways to make the celebration both festive and memorable. Here are some ideas that can inspire your 2026 office celebration.

1. Decorate Your Office with Lunar New Year Symbols

Decorations are one of the simplest ways to set the tone for a festival celebration. Spring Festival is full of symbolic colors, motifs, and objects, each carrying meaning:

• Red and gold decorations: These colors symbolize good fortune, happiness, and prosperity. Hang red lanterns, banners, and paper cuttings around your office.
• Chinese couplets: Place traditional red couplets with wishes for the new year around common areas. These are not only beautiful but also culturally meaningful.
• Chinese Zodiac: 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Incorporate horse imagery in decorations, from wall posters to table stands.

Decorating your office in this way instantly transforms the environment, giving employees a festive mood and a visual introduction to Lunar New Year traditions.

2. Organise Lunar New Year Cultural Workshops

Workshops are a fantastic way to engage employees and give them a hands-on experience of Chinese culture. These sessions can be short, fun, and highly interactive:

• New Year Couplets Calligraphy workshops: Participants learn to write their own New Year blessings, practicing Chinese calligraphy with brushes or pens and create beautiful couplets.
• Lantern-making workshops: These crafts are traditional activities during the Lunar New Year and provide a creative outlet for everyone.
• The Year of the Horse Themed Craft: 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Get create and make themed crafts and decoration.

Such workshops not only entertain but also educate your team about Asian traditions and customs, fostering cultural appreciation in the workplace.

3. Organise a Mahjong Workshop

Games are a fun way to bring employees together, encourage interaction, and share a piece of Asian culture. Mahjong, in particular, is a traditional game played during Lunar New Year in many parts of Asia.

• Beginner-friendly workshops: For people who have never played, hosting a beginner mahjong workshop is both fun and social to celebration Lunar New Year with your team.
• Dear Asia London Mahjong School can host a great mahjong experience for your team.

Mahjong game not only entertain but also create a relaxed, friendly environment where colleagues can bond.

4. Give Out Red Envelopes (Hongbao)

Red envelopes, or hongbao, are a classic Lunar New Year tradition. They symbolise good luck and blessings for the new year. While traditionally filled with money, in an office setting, you can adapt them in creative ways:

• Gift cards or small treats: Include small tokens of appreciation, such as chocolate, stationery, or vouchers.
• Positive notes or wishes: Fill envelopes with uplifting messages, encouraging words, or personalized notes from managers.
• Lucky draws: Turn the envelopes into a fun office lottery or prize draw, adding excitement to the celebration.

This activity is simple yet highly symbolic, leaving employees with a sense of recognition, positivity, and festive spirit.

5. Incorporate Team-Building Activities

You can also make the Lunar New Year celebration a chance for teamwork and collaboration:

• Zodiac personality games: Find out which zodiac signs your team members belong to and do fun quizzes or activities based on personality traits.
• Decorating competitions: Teams can compete to design the best festive corner or decorate desks.
• Group craft challenges: Set time-limited challenges for making the most creative lanterns, calligraphy cards, or paper decorations.

These activities help strengthen workplace relationships while keeping the celebration fun and culturally meaningful.

6. Celebrate Virtually

For offices with remote or hybrid teams, Lunar New Year celebrations don’t have to be missed:

• Virtual workshops: Host online calligraphy or crafts sessions.
• Virtual games: Mahjong or trivia games can be adapted for video calls.
• E-red envelopes: Send digital red envelopes or e-gifts with messages of good luck.

Even virtually, your team can feel connected, engaged, and festive, no matter where they are.

Let Dear Asia London Bringing It All Together for you

At Dear Asia London, we make Lunar New Year celebrations in the office truly memorable by bringing the festive spirit to life with traditional Chinese treats, snacks, and drinks, alongside fun, hands-on Year of the Horse-themed craft workshops. Employees can enjoy creating beautiful crafts inspired by the zodiac, while savoring authentic flavors that reflect Lunar New Year traditions, from sweet and savory treats to specialty beverages. Every detail from decorations to activities is designed to immerse your team in the culture, spark creativity, and foster connection. As an event organiser and a team from Asia, we deliver complete and authentic Lunar New Year experiences, combining interactive workshops, festive celebrations, and cultural insights that leave a lasting impression on your team and make the holiday truly special.