Maggie Zhou’s Guide To Lunar New Year Gifting
January 14 | 3 minute read
Words by Maggie Zhou
Marking the start of a new lunar calendar year, Lunar New Year is a festive celebration full of joy, togetherness, superstition and food. Lots of food.
The beauty of the annual event is that traditions vary among different cultures, countries and families. For some, the 15-day affair is strictly observed, while for others, it’s an excuse to gather with loved ones and share meals, red envelopes and gifts.
My family’s celebrations mostly revolve around a big dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year. My mum cooks up a delicious feast and we wear red clothing (and sometimes even red underwear) for good luck. Sometimes we embrace traditional wear by putting on qipao-inspired clothing.
This year, I’ll be wearing an asymmetrical top with Chinese knotted button details from Singaporean brand, Dear Samfu. For dinner, Mum’s decided on hot pot and will make Teochew crispy prawn balls (虾枣) from our hometown too. We’ll play Hoo Hey How, a Chinese gambling game that translates to fish prawn crab, and might pull out our table tennis table for a few rounds.
Image via @yemagz on Instagram
I love Lunar New Year. It’s a chance to connect with my Chinese heritage and to connect with my nearest and dearest. Of course, it can also be a great opportunity for gifting – for yourself or loved ones. Here are my top picks ahead of the festive season. Gong xi fa cai!
Chinese-ish by Rosheen Kaul and Joanna Hu
Something homemade
At the heart of Lunar New Year is generosity. Just as we all have different love languages, we all wield different skills. Why not channel your talents into DIY gifts? Consider upcycling existing garments into something new, hand-making a tray of dumplings for a neighbour, or crafting your own Lunar New Year cards or red envelopes. And the most priceless gift of all? Quality time together.
