Chūn jié kuài lè!

That’s “Happy New Year” in Mandarin. It’s a good phrase to know right now. People around the world marked the start of the lunar new year (4711 by the Chinese calendar) and the Year of the Snake with parades, singing, dancing, and parties on Sunday. Celebrations continue for 15 days, so you still have time to join in the festivities!

But what should you do to mark the occasion? The Scholastic News Kids Press Corps is here to help. Kid Reporters from across the country have written about how their communities are celebrating Chinese New Year. From Washington, D.C., to New Jersey to Indianapolis to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, kids and adults alike are getting in the spirit of the holiday. You can find all of the Kid Reporters’ coverage of the Year of the Snake in their Chinese New Year Special Report. The stories you find in that collection aren’t limited to this year’s celebrations. Kid Reporters have covered Chinese New Year events in years past, too, so you’ll also be able to experience how New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco mark the start of a new lunar year.

Check out the Kid Reporters’ stories and get inspired to host your own Chinese New Year celebrations! Let us know in the comments section below what ideas you come up with, and share what your community does to kick off the new year!

Photo: A dragon makes its way down the streets of Washington, D.C., as the city celebrated Chinese New Year with a parade. (Courtesy Emily Shao)