How to Make Chinese New Year Crafts with FREE Printables

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Chinese New Year Crafts

📝 This post, Chinese New Year Crafts, was originally published in 2014 and has been updated with new information and resources.

Chinese New Year is a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to some of the traditions and symbols associated with the celebration. These simple Chinese New Year crafts are easy to make at home or in the classroom—and I’ve included FREE printables to make them even easier!

Students can create decorative firecrackers and learn about the tradition of red envelopes while making their own to share.

Chinese New Year Firecracker Craft

Firecrackers have long been part of Chinese New Year celebrations and are traditionally associated with frightening away evil spirits and welcoming good luck for the year ahead.

Of course, setting off real firecrackers isn’t exactly a classroom activity! Instead, students can make their own decorative paper firecrackers to display in the classroom or take home.

Materials

✔ FREE firecracker template
✔ Red construction or craft paper
✔ Glue
✔ Gold glitter
✔ Scissors
✔ Black or gold pipe cleaners
✔ Hole punch

💚 Grab the FREE Chinese New Year Craft Printables

The free PDF includes both the firecracker template and the red envelope template.

How to Make the Firecrackers

Print the firecracker template on red craft or construction paper. Print the firecracker template on red craft or construction paper. Alternatively, students can color the templates red. Each student will need three templates., students can color the envelopes red. Each student will need three templates.

Cover the design on each template with glue and sprinkle gold glitter over the top.

Shake off the excess glitter and allow the templates to dry.

Students can also add a gold stripe across the top and bottom of each firecracker or leave them as they are.

Once the templates are dry, add glue to the section between the dotted line and the edge of the paper. Roll each template into a cylinder and secure it with the glue.

Punch holes in the cylinders and thread a black or gold pipe cleaner through the holes. Twist the pipe cleaner to hold the firecrackers together, leaving enough at the top to hang the finished craft.

Your Chinese New Year firecrackers are ready to display!

Make a Red Envelope

Red envelopes, or hongbao, are traditionally given during Chinese New Year and often contain money. The red color symbolizes good fortune and happiness, making the envelopes a special way to share wishes for luck and prosperity in the new year.

Students can make their own red envelopes using the free printable template included in the download.

Print the envelope template on red paper and cut it out. Fold along the dotted lines and secure the sides with glue or tape.

Students can place pretend money inside their envelopes or create a special note or drawing to give to someone for the new year.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Classroom

These simple crafts give students a hands-on way to learn about a few traditions associated with Chinese New Year while creating something they can take home or display in the classroom.

Use the firecrackers for a colorful classroom display, make red envelopes as part of your celebration, or do both!

And with the free printable templates, the prep is pretty simple—which is always a bonus. 💚