Out with the old, in with the new — Chinese New Year is an annual holiday centered around bringing in new energy and releasing the old. Chinese communities have celebrated this joyous occasion for thousands of years, with street fairs and festivals, delicious food, fireworks, and beloved, time-honored traditions. Why not bring this festive transfer of energy (along with so much great food) to the workplace?

Also known as the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival, the holiday spans 15 exciting days, starting with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and completing on the day of the first full moon. 

Recognizing and celebrating Chinese New Year at work is a great way to bring your employees together, support local Asian-owned restaurants, and show inclusivity to your Chinese team members. From festive decorations to tasty Chinese catering (we recommend dumplings for wealth and tangerines for good luck), here are some easy, office-friendly ideas to ring in the new year.   

1. Host a lucky Lunar New Year catered lunch

Chinese New Year represents welcoming all that’s new and good while saying goodbye to the old. Luck, abundance, and new beginnings are important themes of the Lunar New Year, and many traditional dishes served during this time are symbolic. For example, dumplings represent luck, while noodles symbolize a happy, long life. Tangerines are one of the holiday’s most traditional foods, and this sweet, tangy fruit is a symbol of good fortune. 

You can make your catered lunch more memorable by  decorating the office in a traditional Chinese New Year fashion. Some believe red paper lanterns ward off bad luck and paper cutouts of symbolic fruits such as peaches and pomegranates represent longevity and fertility. 

Good food is key when it comes to celebrating Chinese New Year in the workplace. For your Chinese New Year feast, order in some Chinese catering with dumplings, noodles, and chun juan (spring rolls). Spring rolls represent bars of gold and luck for the upcoming year. Be sure to include rice balls in sweet syrup, as they’re a staple of the Lunar New Year that symbolizes togetherness and family. 

2. Support local Asian-owned businesses

As you think of ideas and activities to bring your teams together for Chinese New Year, consider supporting Asian-owned businesses. From ordering Chinese food catering from a local Asian restaurant to purchasing party supplies from an Asian-owned market, there are plenty of ways to support businesses in your own community.

3. Hand out traditional red envelopes

Red is a signature color of the Chinese New Year, as it symbolizes positive energy, happiness, and lasting good luck. Red lanterns and red window decor line the streets and shops in Asian communities throughout the season, and many people share red envelopes filled with money on special occasions. While a common belief is that the money inside the envelope is symbolic, the legend lies in the red envelope itself.

Passing out red envelopes stems from an age-old Chinese New Year story. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, an evil spirit named Sui was said to roam the streets and make attempts to scare sleeping children. To keep Sui at bay, parents would light candles and give their children eight coins and red paper.

To ensure the children were distracted and awake, parents told them to wrap the coins in the red paper over and over until they became tired. Once the children fell asleep, their parents would place the wrapped coin packets under their pillows. 

If Sui decided to make an appearance, the coins would protect the children by emitting a bright, glowing light. During the Lunar New Year, people pass around the red envelopes filled with money as a gesture of good luck, peace, and security.

To recreate this tradition in the office, purchase red paper envelopes, or make your own with red construction paper. Fill the envelopes with gold chocolate coins, gift cards, or any other small token to show your staff how much you appreciate them. Hand out the envelopes at your Chinese New Year event or at the start of the day on the first new moon of the lunar calendar year. 

4. Do some traditional office spring cleaning 

Performing a spring cleaning right before the first new moon of the lunar calendar is a beloved Chinese New Year tradition that represents pushing out the old and bringing in the new, and many believe the ritual drives away bad luck.

You can easily perform a spring clean at the office, and there are many ways to make it fun for everyone. Post a flyer and signup sheet in the break room or common area for your employees to sign up for cleaning day. On the flyer, offer mini incentives like free parking for a day, extended lunch breaks, and other perks. 

On cleaning day, order Chinese food catering for everyone who participates. You can also hand out treat bags at the end of the day to say thank you and welcome in the new lunar year on a sweet note. 

5. Treat your office staff to traditional Chinese desserts

Desserts during Chinese New Year represent a sweet life, and the holiday offers many treats to enjoy. Each dessert has a special meaning. For example, walnut cookies represent happiness, and fried dough sugar rings indicate togetherness. Peanut brittle and fortune cake (fa gao), a traditional steamed sponge cake topped with raisins and berries, symbolize good fortune. 

For a fun office pick-me-up, host a Chinese New Year dessert party. Order traditional desserts through a Chinese catering restaurant, and serve everything with tea or coffee. Schedule the party for the afternoon to break up the workday with a little sweetness.

Celebrating Chinese New Year with ezCater

Chinese New Year is a beloved holiday that celebrates Chinese culture and honors age-old traditions. Delicious food is an essential aspect of this special holiday, as it traditionally represents good fortune, luck, and new energy for the year to come. If you’re in charge of planning the menu for a catered Lunar New Year party at the office, use ezCater’s “Diversity of Ownership” filter to discover Asian-owned restaurants near you.