How to Celebrate AAPI Month in 2025
Learning how to celebrate AAPI month in a way that honors and celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is the first step toward fostering genuine inclusion and understanding. Throughout the month of May, AAPI Heritage Month offers an opportunity to recognize the diverse cultures that make up the AAPI community, which spans the entire Asian continent and the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.Â
Now, there are many ways to celebrate, from exploring different cultural traditions through spring craft ideas to engaging with AAPI history and supporting AAPI artists and businesses. Whether you're wondering how to recognize AAPI month at work, school or home, there are tons of fun and meaningful ways to join in the celebration. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
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- How to Recognize AAPI Month
- How to Celebrate AAPI Month at Work
- AAPI Activities for School
- How to Celebrate AAPI Month FAQs
How to Recognize AAPI Month
Understanding how to recognize AAPI Month starts with knowing its origins. According to Time Magazine, in 1976, Jeanie Jew, a congressional staffer, noticed that during the United States’ bicentennial celebration, there was little acknowledgment of the contributions made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
She raised her concerns with New York Congressman Frank Horton, and after more than 15 years of effort, Congress officially designated May as AAPI Heritage Month in 1992.
But, why the month of May specifically? Well, May was chosen for two significant reasons: on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the US and on May 10, 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed.Â
The latter project relied heavily on the labor of more than 20,000 Chinese immigrants who, despite their critical role, were often treated unfairly compared to their white counterparts. Of course, AAPI Month is about more than just recognizing past hardships. It’s a time to uplift and share the stories, cultures and contributions of those who identify as AAPI.
AAPI Month honors the rich heritage of communities from countries such as China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Laos, Singapore, Taiwan and Samoa — among many others. It’s a celebration of history, identity and the lasting impact of AAPI individuals on American society, and there are many ways to participate in AAPI celebration at home and in the broader community.
Donate to an AAPI Nonprofit
One meaningful way to take part in an AAPI Month celebration is by supporting organizations dedicated to uplifting AAPI communities. Consider contributing to groups like Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), which fights for civil rights or Asian Mental Health Collective, which raises awareness about mental health in Asian communities and works to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
Another impactful organization is the National Asian-Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), which advocates for the rights and empowerment of AAPI women and girls.
Support Asian-Owned Businesses
If you're looking for ideas on how to celebrate AAPI Month, start by seeking out and supporting local businesses. This could mean dining at an Asian-owned restaurant, grabbing a drink from a boba tea shop, shopping at a beauty or specialty store or even picking up some delicious food from an AAPI-owned market.
Honor Ancient AAPI Community Healing Practices
Exploring traditional healing and wellness practices from AAPI cultures is another great way to enhance your AAPI month celebration. Try a Tai Chi or Qi Gong class to learn about the flow of energy and experience the joy of mindful movement, or learn about Ho‘oponopono, a Native Hawaiian practice of forgiveness. If you're looking for a more physical approach, consider taking a yoga class at a local studio to deepen your mind-body connection.Â
How to Celebrate AAPI Month at Work
Look Back on Lunar New Year
Did your company celebrate the Lunar New Year earlier this year? AAPI Month is a great time to reflect on that experience. Encourage your team to share or reshare snaps from the celebration on internal and external platforms.Â
Not only is this AAPI month celebration a fantastic way to recognize your team’s cultural diversity, but it can also help to foster a sense of inclusion and understanding. You can also save the photos in a digital or physical scrapbook to look back on in the future.
Chinese Tea Tasting
Tea has a way of bringing people together, and that’s exactly what makes it a perfect addition to an AAPI celebration at work. Hosting a Chinese tea tasting can be as simple or interactive as you’d like.Â
Make the most of lunch hour by setting up a tea station with a variety of Chinese teas and snacks and let people chat and sip at their own pace. Alternatively, have everyone randomly pick a tea when they arrive, then sit by their selection and share their thoughts on the taste, aroma, or even how it makes them feel.
Make It Fun with AAPI-Themed Games
Looking for a fun way to show your team how to celebrate AAPI Month? Try out some party games for adults that highlight AAPI heritage, like a trivia game. Just mix in some interesting facts about AAPI history, culture and contributions, and make sure they’re accurate and well-contextualized. Whether your team is in the office, remote or hybrid, everyone can join in from their computers, phones or tablets and compete for the top score.
Attend a Local Festival or Market
Look up local AAPI events happening nearby and set aside a day to attend together. These festivals usually have a little bit of everything — art, live music, food and even films, so it’s a practical and fun way to get your team involved and experience AAPI culture firsthand.
AAPI Activities for School
Watch a Movie by an AAPI Director
Watching a movie by an AAPI director is a fun way to share the different experiences within AAPI communities with your class. Some kid-friendly options to check out include Turning Red (2022) by Domee Shi, Finding ʻOhana (2021) by Jude Weng, and Minari (2020) by Lee Isaac Chung.
Start an AAPI Book Club
Amplify AAPI stories and voices in the classroom by starting a book club. To get started, have your group vote on a book before the month begins. The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has a helpful list of books that highlight the experiences of Asian Americans. After choosing the book, set a date for everyone to finish reading, then come together to talk about your thoughts and what you learned.
Try Lion Dancing
Lion dancing is a fun and interactive idea for AAPI activities for school, especially for younger kids in preschool or elementary school. While it’s most commonly done during Chinese New Year, it’s a great activity to introduce students to AAPI culture and history. This tradition has been around since the Tang Dynasty in China and its movements are based on kung fu.Â
It usually involves at least two people, one controlling the head of the lion and the other the tail, and you can make a project of it by making the lion costume as a class from materials like paper, fabric or cardboard.
Go to a Museum
What better way to celebrate AAPI Month for kids than with an educational visit to the museum? There are lots of options to choose from like the Japanese History Museum in LA, which has exhibits about the history of Japanese Americans and their journey to the US. If you can’t make it in person, pull out the Smartboard for a virtual visit to the Smithsonian’s Museum of Asian Art online. One interesting feature to look at is the Smithsonian’s photo gallery, A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America, which gives a glimpse into the daily lives of people from various AAPI backgrounds.
Explore Asian-Pacific Art
For a hands-on activity, consider doing some AAPI Month crafts that focus on different cultures and traditions. You could try something fun like origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. It’s relaxing and you can teach the class about the history of the famous paper crane, then everyone can make their own.Â
Another idea is to visit a local Hindu temple if it's nearby and take a tour. Then you can watch a documentary or talk to a temple guide to learn about how the temple was built.
Discover Asian-Pacific Horticulture
The National Park Service states that in 1912, Japan gifted over 3,000 cherry trees to the U.S. as a symbol of friendship and these trees were planted in Washington, DC, where they now bloom into the famous cherry blossoms each spring.Â
Japan gave even more trees in 1965 and in 2011, some of the original 1912 trees were sent back to Japan to help preserve their genetic lineage. You can teach your students about this history and even bring a Bonsai tree into the classroom for them to see. It’s a hands-on way to connect with nature while showing them how to celebrate AAPI month.
How to Celebrate AAPI Month FAQs
What Are the Traditions of AAPI?
Apart from learning how to celebrate AAPI Month, it’s also important to understand some of the traditions that come with it. AAPI traditions include things like dragon and lion dances, setting off firecrackers and getting together for family reunions.Â
One of the most popular customs is giving red envelopes filled with money to bring good luck. These traditions are a big part of AAPI culture and add a lot of meaning to the celebrations.
What Color Represents AAPI?
Bright colors and cool patterns are a big part of any AAPI month celebration, as both Asian and Pacific Island cultures love using vibrant colors. For instance, red is a symbol of good luck and prosperity in many Asian cultures, while in the Pacific Islands, it represents vitality.
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AAPI Month is a great time to reflect on the incredible impact Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have had on U.S. history. Their contributions have shaped everything from art and politics to infrastructure and innovation.
Whether you're celebrating with delicious Asian Pacific party food or planning some fun activities, it’s a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the diversity that enriches our communities. However you choose to participate, take the time to honor and celebrate all the ways AAPI culture has shaped our world.Â
For even more fun ways to celebrate, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
