Lunar New Year: What It Means to Your Au Pair
Imagine this. It is late January or early February. Outside, it might still be winter. But inside millions of homes across Asia, everything feels different. Windows are cleaned carefully. Floors are swept thoroughly. Old clutter is removed. Red decorations appear on doors. The kitchen is full of familiar smells. Families travel long distances to return home.
This is Lunar New Year.
For many of your Au Pairs from countries like Vietnam, China, or other parts of Asia, the Lunar New Year is the most important celebration of the year. It is not just another holiday. It is Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and a family reunion combined into one deeply meaningful tradition.
What the Celebration Looks Like
In many homes, the days before Lunar New Year are filled with preparation. The house is cleaned to sweep away bad luck from the old year. Special food is cooked in large quantities. Ancestors are remembered with respect.
On New Year’s Day itself, families gather. Children dress nicely. The younger generation greets the elders with respectful wishes for health and longevity. In return, elders give red envelopes with money inside. These envelopes are not about the amount of money. They symbolize blessings, good fortune, and a fresh start. There is laughter, shared meals, and a feeling that everyone belongs.
A Homecoming Celebration
Lunar New Year, often called Tết in Vietnam or Spring Festival in China, marks the beginning of the new year according to the lunar calendar. But more than marking time, it marks a return to family.
Children who work or study far away come home. Tables are filled with traditional dishes prepared only once a year. Elders are honored. Gratitude is expressed. Wishes for health, luck, and prosperity are shared.
The color red appears everywhere. Red symbolizes luck, protection, and new beginnings. You will see red lanterns, red paper decorations, red envelopes, and red clothing. It is a color of hope.
For your Au Pair, this time of year can feel emotional. It is often the first time she celebrates away from her own family. While she may continue her daily routine in Germany, part of her heart may be imagining the noise, laughter, and warmth of home.
Why It Matters for Your Au Pair
For your Au Pair, Lunar New Year is not just a date on the calendar. It represents identity, childhood memories, and deep cultural roots. Even if she does not speak about it much, she may be thinking about:
- The first meal of the new year
- Her parents’ wishes
- Traditional games or fireworks
- The moment of receiving red envelopes as a child
Being away from home during this celebration can feel similar to spending Christmas alone in a foreign country. As a host family, your awareness can make a meaningful difference. You do not need to fully understand every tradition. What matters most is acknowledging that this time is special to her. You might ask simple questions:
- “What is Lunar New Year like in your country?”
- “What do you usually eat at home?”
- “What do you miss most during this time?”
These small conversations show respect and interest.
A Simple Gesture That Means a Lot
If you would like to surprise your Au Pair in a thoughtful way, consider giving her a small red envelope. Inside, you can place a symbolic amount of money or even a handwritten note with your wishes for her year in Germany.
You could also:
- Give her a red card with warm wishes
- Wrap a small gift in red paper
- Offer her a red mug or cup as a symbol of good luck
- Prepare a small dessert and invite her to share what this holiday means to her
The key is the color red and the intention behind it: wishing her happiness, health, and success. It does not have to be expensive or elaborate. The meaning lies in recognition.
A Moment of Cultural Exchange
Lunar New Year can become a beautiful opportunity for cultural exchange within your home. Perhaps your Au Pair can cook a traditional dish. Perhaps the children can learn a few New Year greetings in her language. Perhaps you hang a small red decoration together. In doing so, your children learn something valuable: that families around the world celebrate differently, but the heart of every celebration is the same.
Belonging. Gratitude. Hope for the future.