Preparing for Lunar New Year with Babipur

Preparing for Lunar New Year with Babipur

Written by: Elizabeth Loh

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Published on

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Time to read 3 min

Hi! I am Liz (IG: @mummyplaytim3), a proud member of the Babipur Buddy team. The Lunar New Year is fast approaching, and I’m excited to share how my family prepares for this special occasion!

What Is Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year marks the start of a new cycle in the Chinese zodiac. There are 12 zodiac animals, each representing a year in a 12-year cycle. This year, we welcome the Year of the Snake, symbolising wisdom, charm, intelligence, and transformation.

The Lunar New Year is a time of vibrant celebrations across Asia. From bright, vivid decorations to the festive atmosphere, it’s a wonderful occasion to soak in the joy and traditions.

The Tradition of Lunar New Year Cleaning

A bottle of Bio D All-Purpose Sanitiser with a Mandarin scent is placed on a vibrant fruit-patterned tablecloth. The spray nozzle points towards three blue Kapla blocks arranged to resemble pretend spray streams. Scattered nearby are golden coins, which are Divine Fairtrade chocolate coins, adding a playful and ethical touch to the setup. The scene combines practicality with a creative and festive vibe.

House cleaning is an important Lunar New Year tradition, symbolising a fresh start by sweeping away negativity and bad luck from the past year to make room for blessings and fortune. It’s also a practical way to prepare your home for festive decorations and gatherings!

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips

Three eco-friendly cleaning products by Eco Living displayed on a colorful tablecloth with fruit-inspired patterns. The products include 'Natural Bleach' in a blue-labeled package, 'Citric Acid' in an orange-labeled package, and 'Borax Substitute' in a yellow-labeled package, all in brown paper bags. To the side, festive Lunar New Year decorations are included: a red hanging ornament with a gold Chinese character for fortune, a plush red decorative item, a golden orange, and a stack of gold chocolate coins, adding a celebratory touch to the scene.

In my home, Eco Living cleaning products are a must. They are versatile, sustainable, and easy to use.

Natural Bathroom Cleaner:

  • Mix 2 parts natural bleach with 1 part citric acid.
  • Dissolve in boiling water, then dilute with cool water.

This cleanser removes limescale and leaves surfaces sparkling with minimal residue.

Soft Laundry Without Fabric Conditioner:

  • Add a scoop of Eco Living Borax Substitute Powder to the washing machine drum.

It keeps towels, cloth wipes, and nappies soft and fluffy—especially bamboo and hemp fabrics!

All-Purpose Sanitiser with a Festive Touch:

  • The Bio-D All Purpose Sanitiser in zesty mandarin fragrance neutralises bacteria and adds a festive note to your home. Mandarin is symbolic of gold in Chinese culture, making it a perfect addition to Lunar New Year preparations.

Tip: Complete all cleaning before New Year’s Day, as cleaning on the day is believed to sweep away the good fortune brought by the new year.

Lunar New Year Crafts

After cleaning, it’s time to decorate! Our family loves creating festive crafts that celebrate the zodiac animal of the year.

How to Make a Spiral Snake Using Paper Plates

A collage showcasing a paper plate snake craft for the Year of the Snake, created using Kitpas block crayons. The first image shows hands decorating the edge of a paper plate with red crayon. The second image features a finished spiral snake, cut from a paper plate, decorated in green and black patterns, and hanging on a door with Lunar New Year decorations in the background. The third image displays the materials used, including Kitpas block crayons in various colours, and a completed green and black snake design on a paper plate, ready to be cut into a spiral. The craft emphasizes creative use of simple materials for a festive celebration

Items Used:

  • Paper plates or thick paper
  • Kitpas wax blocks (or alternative crayons)
  • Pencil
  • Paper tape
  • String
  • Scissors

Method:

  1. Draw a thick spiral on the paper plate and sketch out a snake pattern.
  2. Colour the spiral with Kitpas wax blocks for vibrant and long-lasting colours.
  3. Cut along the spiral to form the snake.
  4. Attach string to the head and hang it up with paper tape for a fun decoration.

How to Make a Paper Chain Snake

A collage showcasing handmade snake crafts created for the Year of the Snake using Babipur eco paper tape featuring rainbow and star patterns. The first image shows a child cutting strips of the tape to assemble the craft. The second image displays a finished snake hanging on a door, complete with a red tongue and drawn-on eyes. The third image features a pile of completed snake crafts arranged on a woven mat with a rainbow backdrop, and the fourth image shows strips of the paper tape prepared on brown kraft paper for crafting. The project highlights eco-friendly creativity with a festive Lunar New Year theme.

Items Used:

  • Paper
  • Paper tape
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Kitpas wax blocks

Method:

  1. Stick 15cm strips of paper tape onto paper, leaving about 1cm extending past the edge.
  2. Cut out the strips.
  3. Form a loop with the first strip, securing it with the extra 1cm. Thread the next strip through and repeat until your snake reaches the desired length.
  4. Create a head and tail by folding paper, cutting shapes, and decorating with Kitpas wax blocks and tape. Attach them to the ends of the chain to complete your snake.
A collage showcasing handmade Lunar New Year decorations in use. The top image features a spiral paper plate snake, painted in green and black, hanging from a garland of red lanterns and tassels with Chinese character ornaments for good fortune. The bottom image shows a doorway adorned with a festive paper chain made using Babipur eco paper tape with rainbow patterns, flanked by red and gold Chinese couplets on either side. The decorations bring an eco-friendly, creative touch to the traditional Lunar New Year celebration.

Embracing Culture Through Crafts

The Lunar New Year is when we miss our family in Malaysia the most. To keep our traditions alive, we incorporate crafts and activities that celebrate Chinese culture and heritage.

A collage of family moments during a visit to Malaysia, celebrating Lunar New Year. The top-left image shows a smiling mother in a red shirt holding her baby, both dressed in festive red outfits. The top-right image captures the family from behind as they admire a vibrant fountain surrounded by colorful flowers under a large, modern glass dome. The bottom-left image features two children interacting with a traditional red lion dance costume at a Chinese New Year event, with a sign that reads 'Chinese New Year 2024' in the background. The bottom-right image shows a grandfather helping a young boy open a red envelope, both dressed in red and sitting together in a warm, intimate moment. The collage highlights family, tradition, and celebration.
  • Hand Painting with Natural Earth Face Paint:
    Red snakes and Chinese knots symbolise luck and joy. The thick, paste-like texture of the paint makes it easy for kids to use.
  • Writing Auspicious Sayings:
    Using Namaki Natural Face Painting Pencils, we write Chinese characters like 吉祥 (lucky) and draw snake scales. It’s a fun way to engage the kids with their heritage.
A collage featuring body art inspired by the Year of the Snake, created using Namaki face paints and Natural Earth Paints. The first image shows two hands painted with green Chinese characters for 'good fortune,' surrounded by eco-friendly face paint crayons. The second image depicts a hand being painted with a bold red floral design using Natural Earth Paints. The third and fourth images show intricate designs on a child's hands, including snake-inspired patterns and scales, created with shades of green, orange, and black. The craft emphasizes creativity and the use of natural, eco-friendly materials for a festive celebration.

Hong Kong-Style Butter Cookies Recipe

Two children sitting at a table indoors, smiling at the camera. The child on the left wears colorful pajamas and a blue fleece robe with cartoon designs, while the younger child on the right wears a light blue outfit and holds a small toy and a piece of cookie. In front of them is a baking tray with freshly made Hong Kong-style butter cookies on an ‘Eco Living’ green reusable baking mat. The setting includes Lunar New Year decorations on the wall behind them

No Lunar New Year is complete without festive treats! This year, we baked buttery cookies shaped like snakes to symbolise unity and good fortune.

Ingredients:

  • 225g unsalted butter, softened
  • 65g icing sugar, sieved
  • 225g plain flour, sieved
  • 80g corn flour, sieved
  • 2 pinches of salt

Method:

  1. Beat butter until smooth.
  2. Add icing sugar and mix until pale yellow.
  3. Gradually mix in the flour, corn flour, and salt until combined.
  4. Transfer to a piping bag with a 13mm star tip.
  5. Pipe 3cm-wide cookies onto a reusable silicone baking liner, forming ruffles about 2cm high.
  6. Chill the cookies in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
  7. Bake at 150°C for 40 minutes, then increase to 180°C for 3 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Cool completely before serving or storing.

Using the Eco Living Silicone Baking Liner made the process easier while reducing waste.

A close-up of a tray filled with freshly baked Hong Kong-style butter cookies arranged neatly on a reusable baking mat. A child's hand reaches out to pick up one of the cookies, adding a sense of interaction to the scene. The cookies have a golden swirl design, and the tray is lined with a green-edged reusable ‘Eco Living’ Silicone baking mat. The setting is bright, suggesting a daytime bake for the Lunar New Year

Connecting Through Food and Memories

Sharing Lunar New Year cookies is a cherished tradition. My boys love seeing the familiar cookie containers from their grandparents’ home in Malaysia, sparking joyful memories of family celebrations.

A jar filled with golden Hong Kong-style butter cookies, decorated with Babipur eco paper tape featuring colorful rainbow and star patterns. The jar has a red lid and is held in a hand against a festive backdrop of red Lunar New Year decorations. The cookies’ swirled design is visible through the jar, highlighting their homemade charm and the eco-friendly, celebratory presentation.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Our home is now ready to welcome the Year of the Snake, and we can’t wait to celebrate with friends in the UK while virtually joining family back home.

I hope these ideas inspire you to create your own Lunar New Year traditions. Don’t forget to tag Babipur in your social posts so we can see your crafts, treats, and celebrations!

Wishing you wisdom, joy, and good fortune in the Year of the Snake!

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