Lunar New Year Away From Home: How International Students Can Celebrate

For many international students, Lunar New Year arrives with a strange mix of excitement and homesickness. 

Back home, it’s the season of family kitchens running at full capacity, busy trains, community noise, and the comforting chaos of traditions you barely have to think about. Abroad, the same dates can land in the middle of exams, work shifts, or a very normal weekday where nobody around you realises it’s one of the biggest celebrations of your year.

The good news is: you don’t need a full family house, a huge budget, or a perfect plan to make it meaningful. You just need a few intentional choices- and, if you want, a couple of friends who join in with genuine curiosity rather than “tourist mode”.

First: know what you’re celebrating

“Lunar New Year” is often used as an umbrella term, but traditions vary a lot across cultures and families. 

Some students celebrate Chinese New Year; others celebrate Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) or Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). Even within the same culture, customs can differ by region, religion, and family habits.

If you’re the student celebrating: give yourself permission to do a version that fits your life right now. If you’re a friend joining in: treat it like you’re being invited into someone’s home – because culturally, that’s what it is, even if you’re doing it in a small UK flat-share kitchen.

How international students can celebrate without pressure

Start by choosing what you want this year to feel like. Some years are about being social and loud; other years are about comfort and connection.

A simple, strong plan often has three elements:

1) One “home” anchor.
That could be a video call with family, cooking one dish you grew up with, wearing something that makes you feel like yourself, or even playing New Year music while you clean your room. 

Tiny rituals count – especially when you’re far away.

2) One shared moment.
Invite a friend for dumplings, go to a local celebration, or organise a small “bring something warm” meal. If you’re not up for hosting, pick a neutral place: a favourite café, an Asian supermarket food court, a student union event, or a restaurant that feels comforting.

3) One message to your future self.
Lunar New Year is often about renewal: clearing out, resetting, wishing good health and fortune. Write a short note to yourself: what you’re leaving behind, what you’re building, and one promise you’ll keep when the term gets intense again.

If you’re feeling that familiar “everyone else has family around” heaviness, you’re not being dramatic – you’re being human. This is exactly the kind of holiday that can amplify distance. Build in something nurturing on purpose: a long walk, a hot bath, a proper meal, an early night. 

Celebration isn’t only performance; sometimes it’s care.

Food, symbolism, and the magic of small details

Food is often the easiest bridge between “I miss home” and “I’m celebrating anyway”. You don’t have to recreate a banquet. You can choose one symbolic element and lean into it.

For some people, dumplings mean wealth and togetherness. For others, rice cakes, noodles, sticky rice, citrus fruits, or sweets matter most. If cooking is stressful, try a “collab” approach: one person buys a dessert, another brings fruit, another handles tea. You’re not failing the tradition by keeping it simple – you’re adapting it.

Small details help, too: a tidy space (new year, new energy), a fresh bedsheet, a red accessory, a handwritten wish list. It’s less about décor and more about intention.

How friends can join in respectfully (without making it weird)

If you’re invited, the best starting point is to ask one sincere question: “What does Lunar New Year look like in your family?” That gives the person control over what they want to share – and it avoids assumptions.

A few respectful ways to show up:

Bring something thoughtful: Fruit, flowers, tea, a small dessert, or even a card with a simple well-wish can be lovely. If you’re not sure, ask. Effort matters more than perfection.

Be curious, not comedic: Avoid treating traditions like a costume party or a social media “bit”. If someone teaches you a greeting, repeat it properly and with care – don’t turn it into a joke.

Let the host lead the meaning: Some families take spiritual elements seriously; others focus on food and togetherness. Follow the vibe. If you’re offered a tradition (like a toast, a greeting, or a symbolic bite), accept it with gratitude.

Skip stereotypes: This is a big one. Lunar New Year isn’t a monolith, and nobody wants to spend their celebration correcting clichés.

Greetings, red envelopes, and the “do I need to buy something?” question

You don’t need to overthink greetings. A warm “Happy Lunar New Year” is safe and appreciated. If you know the specific culture, you can ask how to say it properly. Saying it with genuine respect beats saying it flawlessly.

Red envelopes (lucky money) are meaningful in many families, but they’re also specific. If you’re not part of that tradition, don’t force it. If you want to give a small gift, keep it simple and considerate rather than symbolic in a way you don’t understand. 

And if you are offered something, receive it graciously – don’t refuse repeatedly in a way that makes the moment awkward.

Building a “home-away-from-home” tradition that lasts

The most underrated part of celebrating abroad is that you get to build something new. 

Maybe your tradition becomes a yearly dumpling night with a mixed group of friends. Maybe it becomes a quiet reset day with a call home and a walk. Maybe it becomes volunteering at a community event, or visiting a local cultural celebration to feel connected.

If you’re an international student: you’re allowed to make this holiday fit your season of life.
If you’re a friend: you don’t have to know everything – you just have to show up with care.

Because in the end, Lunar New Year isn’t only about where you are. It’s about who you’re connected to, what you’re hoping for, and the small ways you choose to start again.