Free Chinese New Year Crossword Puzzle Printable
A Chinese New Year crossword is a simple way to bring the traditions and symbols of the holiday into the day without adding more prep to your plate.
Kids settle into puzzles quickly, which makes them a useful warm-up, a quiet independent activity, or a thoughtful addition to a Lunar New Year lesson.
This one introduces vocabulary tied to zodiac animals, customs, and well-known symbols, and the coloring pieces give it a creative angle that keeps kids interested.
It works well across a range of ages and offers an easy, low-pressure way to build familiarity with the holiday.
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What’s Inside the Chinese New Year Crossword Puzzle
This crossword gives kids a simple way to explore key ideas behind Chinese New Year while building vocabulary and problem-solving skills.
The first page includes clues related to zodiac animals, traditions, and familiar holiday symbols, along with black-and-white illustrations that kids can color as they work. It’s straightforward to use and easy for mixed-age groups.
The second page includes a complete answer key, so you can check progress quickly or offer support if students get stuck.
Across
- Customs followed during Chinese New Year: Traditions
- A wish for wealth and success in the New Year: Prosperity
- Seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac: Horse
- Orange fruit symbolizing wealth and luck: Mandarin
- Ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac: Monkey
- Celebration of the Lunar New Year: Festival
- What everyone wishes for during the festival: Happiness
- Done before New Year to sweep away bad luck: Cleaning
- Sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac: Snake
- Family dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve: Reunion
Down
- Small explosives used to celebrate and ward off spirits: Firecrackers
- Represents the zodiac cycle of animals: Year
- Twelfth animal in the Chinese zodiac: Pig
- A place where prayers are offered during the New Year: Temple
- Another word for good luck: Fortune
- Honoring relatives from the past: Ancestors
- Decorations with good wishes for the New Year: Banner
- Symbol of strength and courage in celebrations: Lion
- Eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac: Goat
More Chinese New Year Worksheets
If you’re building a small set of Lunar New Year activities, these printables work well alongside the crossword:
- Chinese New Year zodiac animal coloring pages: Kids can color each zodiac sign while learning simple traits and meanings.
- Chinese New Year word search: Reinforces key holiday vocabulary such as lantern, dragon, and fortune.
- Lunar New Year scrambled words printable: A quick spelling and vocabulary challenge using familiar festival terms.
- Chinese New Year bookmarks: Color-and-use bookmarks that pair nicely with holiday reading.
Have Fun With Our Monthly Crossword Puzzles!
Chinese New Year Books for Kids
If you want to add a read-aloud or a quick nonfiction tie-in, these books explain the holiday in a simple, age-appropriate way:
- Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin – A clear, kid-friendly look at family traditions, decorations, and celebrations.
- Ruby’s Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee – A sweet story that introduces zodiac animals through a child’s point of view.
- Celebrating Chinese New Year (Nat Geo Kids) – A straightforward nonfiction option with real photos and short facts.
These work well alongside the crossword if you’re building a small Lunar New Year lesson or just want something meaningful to read with your kids.
Get Your Free Lunar New Year Crossword Printable Here!
Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!
Tip: Use a personal email address (like Gmail), school or work emails sometimes filter printable links.
If you don’t see the form below, click here to get the free PDF.
Last Updated on 17 November 2025 by Clare Brown
