Lunar New Year Party Ideas and Invitation Wording

October 28, 2026

Red Lantern red and gold Lunar New Year party invitation design shown with its envelope

Lunar New Year is one of the most joyful celebrations of the year for millions of families in the United States and around the world, from Chinese New Year and Vietnamese Tết to Korean Seollal. It's a time for reunion dinners, red envelopes, lucky foods, and wishes for health and prosperity. Whether you're hosting a family reunion dinner, an office celebration, or a party for friends who are new to the holiday, this guide covers the 2027 date, traditions, food, and invitation wording.

When is Lunar New Year 2027?

Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, beginning the Year of the Goat (also called the Year of the Sheep in some traditions). The reunion dinner is traditionally held on New Year's Eve, which is Friday, February 5, 2027. Celebrations often continue for up to 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Many American families host gatherings on the nearest weekend.

Traditions to share with guests

Reunion dinner: the most important meal of the year, bringing family together on New Year's Eve.
Red envelopes: called hongbao in Mandarin, lai see in Cantonese, and lì xì in Vietnamese, these hold money for children and unmarried relatives as a wish for good fortune.
Red decorations: red is associated with luck and celebration.
Cleaning before the new year to sweep away bad luck, and avoiding sweeping on New Year's Day.
Greetings: "Gong hei fat choy" (Cantonese), "Xinnian kuaile" (Mandarin), "Chúc mừng năm mới" (Vietnamese), and "Saehae bok mani badeuseyo" (Korean).

Customs differ between families and cultures, so follow your own family's traditions.

Lucky foods for your menu

Dumplings: shaped like ancient silver ingots, for wealth.
Whole fish: symbolizing abundance; often some is left for the next year.
Long noodles: for long life (don't cut them).
Spring rolls: golden like gold bars.
Nian gao (rice cake): for growth and progress.
Oranges and tangerines: for luck and wealth.
Bánh chưng: sticky rice cakes for Tết.
Tteokguk: rice cake soup for Seollal.

Party ideas

Dumpling-making party: fun for all ages.
Lantern decorating for kids.
Calligraphy station for writing lucky phrases.
Red and gold decor with paper lanterns and plum blossoms.
Zodiac game: guests find their zodiac animal.
Office celebration: a potluck lunch or catered dim sum.

Lunar New Year invitation wording

Family reunion dinner

Please join the Chen family for our Lunar New Year reunion dinner as we welcome the Year of the Goat. Friday, February 5, 2027, at 6 PM, 88 Garden Court, San Francisco.

Friends' party

Happy Lunar New Year! Join us for dumplings, red envelopes, and good fortune. Saturday, February 6, 2027, at 7 PM.

Office celebration

Welcome the Year of the Goat with us! Join the team for a Lunar New Year lunch on Monday, February 8, at noon in the main conference room.

Dumpling party

Fold, steam, and celebrate! You're invited to our Lunar New Year dumpling-making party.

Tết

Chúc mừng năm mới! Please join the Nguyen family to celebrate Tết.

If you'd like greetings in Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean characters, have a family member check the wording before you send.

When to send invitations

Send invitations 3–4 weeks ahead. For 2027, that's early to mid-January. Reunion dinners with traveling relatives benefit from even earlier notice.

A red lantern invitation

Our Red Lantern Lunar New Year invitation is designed in deep red and gold: three hand-drawn red lanterns with golden tassels, a garland of plum blossoms, a row of golden wave motifs, and lanterns floating up the screen once guests open the envelope. The names glow in a gold gradient. An original festive melody plays in the browser; guests can mute it, or you can choose no music.

The Signature version is a private link with an envelope and wax seal, floating lanterns, music, a live countdown, the evening's schedule, map and directions, add-to-calendar, and online RSVP with a guest list you can export. The Essential version is a print-ready 5×7 PDF and phone-ready PNG (a still image). We add your family name, the zodiac year, and a seal character of your choice, and Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean greetings can be added on request and are checked before delivery. It's perfect for reunion dinners, Tết and Seollal gatherings, office parties, and community celebrations. See pricing.