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The Chinese New Year is just around the corner. In 2026, the Year of the Horse begins on February 17, Tuesday, a year celebrated for energy, vitality, and new opportunities.
During this festive season, creating personalized Chinese New Year video greetings is a wonderful way to share your blessings with friends and family.
With the help of AI-powered video editing tools, you can easily turn your photos and ideas into lively, festive videos.
As the saying goes, “Well begun is half done.” In this article, we will show you how to create a Chinese New Year video using YouCam Video so you can send warm wishes as the Year of the Horse begins.
Best App to Make Happy Chinese New Year Videos
YouCam Video is the go-to app for making Happy Chinese New Year videos in 2026.
Best AI Video Editor
The Best AI Video Editor & Makeup App.
Smooth skin and edit videos easily.
With special 'Holiday Presets,' 'Virtual Holiday Makeup Looks,' and advanced 'AI Tools,' this app helps you create better holiday videos right on your phone.
How to Create a Chinese New Year Video?
In the following section, we will elaborate on the features you can play with:
#1 Chinese New Year Animated Effects
- On YouCam Video, scroll right on the bottom toolbar, until you find “Effects”
- Tap on the Holidays option
- Choose among 5 Chinese New Year animated effects
Personally, we love these 3 Chinese New Year effects the most:
- Red envelopes and gold ingots
- 4 oranges saying "Great fortune and great favor"
- Chinese lanterns with Happy Chinese New Year greeting in Chinese
They are all wonderful representations of Chinese New Year rituals. Highly recommended to try them out.
#2 Lunar New Year Makeup Looks
Besides getting yourself new clothes, why not try out different Lunar New Year-themed makeup looks? Make sure you look nice and festive in your video.
Our top picks for Chinese New Year Makup Looks are:
- Lunar Bloom
- Lucky Lunar
- Lunar Glam
Here's how you can find this feature:
- On YouCam Video, tap on Looks at the bottom toolbar
- Look for the Asian Style option
- Choose among 13 Chinese New Year virtual makeup looks
#3 Chinese New Year Stickers
In YouCam Video, there are around 10 Chinese New Year stickers, including:
- Red envelopes
- Firecrackers
- Chinese lanterns
- Happy New Year in Chinese
- Oranges and golden ingots
- Dragon and lion dances (❤️ Our favorite sticker for sure!)
Here's how you can find it:
- Go to Sticker section on the toolbar
- Find Holidays among all the sticker categories (the last one on the left)
- Keep scrolling right until you find the CNY stickers
Highly recommend trying out every sticker on your video to see which one works the best!
#4 Chinese New Year Greetings
Chinese New Year is not complete without Chinese New Year greetings! Make sure your video includes at least one greeting.
Here's how it works:
- Type whatever you like in your video
- Decide on the color and fonts you want
- Adjust where you’d like the greeting to appear on the video timeline
#5 Chinese New Year Songs
And don’t forget the Chinese New Year music!
Feel free to download some famous Chinese New Year songs and add them to your video. You can also adjust the music volume so that it won’t affect the original audio.
And did you know that you can enhance your Chinese New Year videos using an AI Music Generator? This tool creates festive background music that matches the mood of your video automatically, saving time on editing.
Create Festive Chinese New Year Videos from Photos (Image-to-Video)
Turning a favorite photo into a festive Chinese New Year video is easier than ever with YouCam Video’s image-to-video AI technology.
Instead of editing clips manually, users can simply upload a photo, choose a holiday-themed template, and let AI generate an animated celebration in seconds.
YouCam Video offers a wide range of Holiday templates, including the popular Chinese New Year Poster, designed with festive colors, traditional elements, and lively animations.
How to Turn a Photo into a Chinese New Year Video
Step 1: Open YouCam Video
Launch the YouCam Video app on your mobile device.
Step 2: Choose a Chinese New Year Template
Browse the Holiday template category and select a festive option such as Chinese New Year Poster.
Step 3: Upload Your Photo
Upload a photo from your camera roll. Portraits, family photos, or celebration snapshots work best.
Step 4: Let AI Generate Your Video
Tap Generate and YouCam Video’s AI will instantly transform your photo into a festive animated video.
Step 5: Preview and Share
Preview the result, then download or share your Chinese New Year video directly on social media or with loved ones.
Download YouCam Video: Chinese New Year Video Maker
Best AI Video Editor
The Best AI Video Editor & Makeup App.
Smooth skin and edit videos easily.
Ready to create your 2026 Lunar New Year videos?
Start using YouCam Video, one of the best Happy Chinese New Year Video Maker Apps in 2026!
With festive presets, filters, holiday makeup looks, and seamless editing, you get to turn your video footage into festive videos.
Download now and start creating your Chinese New Year 2026 video – let the celebration begin!
Chinese New Year Video FAQs
What are three don'ts on Chinese New Year's Day?
1. Avoid sweeping or cleaning, as it may sweep away good luck.
2. Do not use negative words or arguments to prevent bad energy.
3. Refrain from breaking things, as it is believed to bring misfortune.
Following these customs helps ensure a year of prosperity, harmony, and happiness.
What are three traditions for Chinese New Year?
Three common Chinese New Year traditions are: giving red envelopes (hongbao) to symbolize luck, setting off fireworks to scare away evil spirits, and enjoying reunion dinners with family. Decorating homes with red and gold ornaments and honoring ancestors are also widely practiced to welcome good fortune.
What is not allowed during the Chinese New Year?
During Chinese New Year, avoid actions that symbolize bad luck, such as cleaning, cutting hair, or using sharp objects. Negative words, arguments, and breaking items are also discouraged. Observing these customs ensures a year of safety, health, and prosperity for the entire household.
What colors not to wear for Chinese New Year?
Avoid wearing black, white, or gray on Chinese New Year, as these colors are traditionally associated with mourning. Instead, red, gold, and bright shades are preferred for luck, happiness, and prosperity. Wearing the right colors helps attract positive energy and aligns with festive celebrations.
How do people celebrate Chinese New Year?
People celebrate Chinese New Year with family reunions, festive meals, exchanging red envelopes, decorating homes, and attending cultural performances. Fireworks, dragon dances, and traditional games are common, while honoring ancestors adds cultural and spiritual meaning. These customs symbolize good luck, happiness, and a fresh start for the new year.
What foods are eaten during Chinese New Year?
Traditional Chinese New Year foods include dumplings for wealth, fish for abundance, rice cakes for growth, and sweet treats for a sweet year ahead. Fruits like tangerines and oranges symbolize good fortune, while sticky rice desserts bring family together, making meals both meaningful and festive.
