8 Ways to Celebrate the Lunar New Year

DISCLAIMER: This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, accounting, tax, HR, or other professional advice. You are responsible for your own compliance with laws and regulations. You should contact your attorney or other relevant advisor for advice specific to your circumstances.

Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year, is one of the most important and celebrated holidays within East and Southeast Asia, and is observed by many around the world. With many long held traditions, Chinese New Year is often the holiday where families and friends gather together for bountiful feasts and festivities. Even though 2022 still looks different from normal years, there are many ways that you can celebrate the holiday to promote your business. 

With friends and family eating together being the catalyst for the holiday, this is the perfect opportunity to promote your restaurant with the help of great marketing, menu ideas, special offers and promotions.

1. Bringing Traditions to your Modern Business

The year of the Tiger is nearly upon us and in theme with the festivities, dress up your business with holiday decorations. Eye-catching decor can often attract new customers. Additionally, promote your business as a place to learn about long-standing traditions for the Lunar New Year. 

Play traditional music or host performances to create buzz around your business for the holidays. Advertise a New Year related activity or dish for each day of the Lunar New Year festivities via old-fashioned flyers, social media or even on the customer display screen of your POS System (if applicable). 

2. Share Chinese Culture

Cooking lessons are a great way to attract new customers and clientele who have never been to your restaurant before. These types of events can attract many people who aren’t just looking for good food, but for an experience. Simple lessons for individuals, couples or even larger groups can be easy to set up for in person or for virtual livestreams via platforms like Zoom.

Create cooking kits for customers to purchase and take home with links to pre-recorded videos or printed instructions as a Covid-19 safe way to hold such events.

3. The Importance of Family



Cater to children and families this holiday season with the addition of Lunar New Year themed kids meals or family combos. Offer different specials such as a family meal special or even kid-friendly dessert. Really get into the holiday spirit of giving by possibly including a free kids entree with the purchase of an adult entree. 

Additionally, with Covid-19 still having a major effect on the nation as a whole, provide a Lunar New Year family takeout meal package in addition to your regular menu as a way to market towards families.

4. Promote At-Home Celebrations

Market your online ordering platforms on your website and social media platforms to gain more traction to your restaurant. With the pandemic still on the minds of many consumers, depend on your online delivery and pick up systems to maintain or even increase your customer volume. 

Include discounts on your online ordering platforms or even include special New Year packages that are only available for online order to increase the incentive for your customers to order online. 

5. Gift Cards as Red Envelopes 

The gifting of red envelopes is a famous tradition for the Chinese New Year holiday with many people, especially young children, looking forward to receiving red envelopes from friends and family. Build on this long standing tradition by advertising your business’s gift cards as another, albeit non-traditional, form of red envelopes. 

Promote with special discounts, such as ‘spend $50 and receive extra $10’ for gift card purchases, or even advertise the purchase of e-gift cards for easier, digital gift-giving.

6. Engage with your Social Media Followers

Capitalize on your social media following by posting about the upcoming new year on your account(s). Make sure your customers know you’re open for business or the specifics of any events you’ll be hosting during the holidays.

Show off your delicious dishes on your accounts via image posts or get creative with video posts. Take sneak peek photos or make pre-event announcements to appeal to potential customers.

7. Advertise on Google and Facebook

Use this time (and some money) for paid advertising on Google and social media sites such as Facebook. With paid promoted posts or ads, you will reach a larger audience, making impressions on those who otherwise would not have patronized your business. 

Make sure your posts follow current trends all the while standing out from the crowd. Even have your customers pose for photos, videos or provide testimonials to give an authentic view on your business social media accounts.

8. Celebrate the New Year with Specials

Finally, another way to create some buzz about your business during the Lunar New Year is to create New Year related specials, especially those that are steeped in tradition. Whether they are dumplings, longevity noodles or even a dish from a specific region of China, promote it with the goal to intrigue customers enough to make the trip to your restaurant. 

This way even old regulars will have an incentive to patronize your business all the while making things interesting for new customers to your restaurant.

Bring in the Year of the Tiger

No matter how you celebrate the Lunar New Year, it is a holiday that can be great for both restaurants and diners. Be sure to plan ahead and try out some of our tips and tricks for your Lunar New Year promotions.

Happy New Year! 新年快乐！