Chinese New Year - known as the Spring Festival or Chunjie - is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar and one of the largest festivals on earth. Marking the beginning of the Lunar New Year, it brings together families for reunion dinners, communities for lantern festivals and dragon dances, and friends for weeks of visiting and celebration. A Chinese New Year invitation should carry the warmth, joy, and auspiciousness that define the festival. This guide gives you wording templates for reunion dinners, community events, and corporate celebrations.
Chinese New Year Invitation Wording Templates
Family reunion dinner (年夜饭 Niányèfàn):
新年快乐！Happy Chinese New Year! The [Family Name] family invites you to our Lunar New Year Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve, [Date] 2026 at [Time]. [Address]. A traditional feast to welcome the Year of the [Zodiac Animal]. Please RSVP to [name] by [date]: [phone or link]. May the new year bring you good health, prosperity, and happiness - 恭喜发财！
Community Lunar New Year celebration:
[Organisation / Community Name] invites you to our Lunar New Year Gala 2026 - welcoming the Year of the [Zodiac Animal]. [Day], [Date] 2026 | [Time] | [Venue, Address]. Lion dance, cultural performances, traditional food, red packet activities for children, and a spectacular finale. Tickets: £[price] / Free (state which). Book at [link]. 恭喜发财 - Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Corporate CNY celebration:
[Company Name] invites all colleagues to celebrate Chinese New Year and the arrival of the Year of the [Zodiac Animal]. [Day], [Date] 2026 | [Time] | [Venue or office]. Traditional food, tea ceremony, and a celebration of the season's auspicious new beginnings. RSVP at [link] by [date]. 新年快乐 - Happy New Year to all!
Including Auspicious Wishes and Greetings
Chinese New Year invitations traditionally include auspicious phrases and wishes. Including these in your invitation - whether in Chinese characters, romanization, or both - shows cultural care and adds authenticity. The most widely used greetings are: 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè - Happy New Year), 恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái - Wishing you prosperity), and 万事如意 (Wàn Shì Rú Yì - May all your wishes come true).
If your event falls on Chinese New Year's Eve (the most important night for family reunion dinners) or on specific festival days (Lantern Festival on the 15th day), note this in the invitation. Guests who know the significance of the specific date will appreciate the occasion more.
Zodiac Year References
Each Chinese New Year is associated with one of the twelve zodiac animals, and invitations often incorporate the year's zodiac animal into the design and wording. Check which animal the upcoming year belongs to (2025 is the Year of the Snake; 2026 is the Year of the Horse) and incorporate this appropriately: "Welcome the Year of the Horse with us!" Zodiac animal references add a specific, personalized touch that generic "Lunar New Year" language lacks.
According to Britannica's guide to Chinese New Year, the festival's traditions vary significantly across regional Chinese cultures and across the Chinese diaspora worldwide. Your invitation can acknowledge this diversity while still conveying the universal themes of family reunion, renewal, and auspicious beginnings.
Chinese New Year Invitation Design
Chinese New Year invitations use one of the most immediately recognizable visual vocabularies in global culture: red and gold (the colors of luck and prosperity), red lanterns, peony flowers, golden coins, dragon and phoenix motifs, and Chinese calligraphy. A red envelope (hongbao / 红包) design is a particularly fitting concept for a CNY invitation, as red envelopes containing money gifts are central to the festival tradition.
Create your Chinese New Year invitation on Invitofy with auspicious templates perfect for the Spring Festival. For related cultural celebration invitations, see our guides on Diwali party invitations and Eid invitation wording.
