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Enter: the most chic Lunar New Year gifts for every taste
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As is often the case with gifting for any occasion, coming up with the best Lunar New Year gift ideas is a task that requires lots of tedious back-and-forth thinking. There are so many factors consider: your budget, their taste, and remembering if you’d gifted them anything similar a year prior. And don’t get me started on friends and family members that are so hard to shop for that you may as well demand a straight answer about what they want/need.
When it comes to Lunar New Year in particular, gift shopping may prove to be twice as challenging – especially if you’re not entirely familiar with the traditions. If you’re someone who has grown up celebrating the holiday, you may already familiar with red envelopes, which can typically contain cash, cards and stickers to wish health and prosperity to your love ones. But there’s a wide selection of thoughtful gifts that you can choose from past said envelopes that will truly set you apart as the coolest auntie/sister/daughter/friend around.
Ahead of the Lunar New Year festivities, we’ve put together a list of unique Chinese New Year gifts for your family and friends (and a few to spoil yourself too). We’ve also put together a short FAQ to briefly explain what Lunar New Year is and what days it falls on to make sure you’re in-the-know. Enjoy.
Best Lunar New Year gifts at a glance:
- Best hamper: Fortnum & Mason Lunar New Year Gift Box, £80, Fortnum & Mason
- Best beauty gift: Pat McGrath Labs Eye Shadow Quad Daring Desire, £55, Pat McGrath
- Best for foodies: The Peninsula Boutique Chinese New Year Cookies and Tea Gift Box, £42, Selfridges
- Best for a perfume obsessive: Floraïku One Umbrella For Two Eau de Parfum, £260, Harrods
When is Lunar New Year 2024?
While New Year’s Eve always falls on December 31st, the first day of Lunar New Year differs because it marks the beginning of (you guessed it) the lunar calendar. This year, it begins on February 10th and continues for 15 days until February 25th (also known as the ‘Lantern Festival’).
Lunar New Year also marks the transition from one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs to another. These include: rat, ox, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2023 was the Year of the Rabbit, while 2024 will be the Year of the Dragon, a sign that symbolises courage, strength and good fortune.
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year – also commonly known as Chinese New Year – dates back over 3,000 years and celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring. In fact, while many different Asian cultures celebrate the occasion, in China a significant part of the festivities are known as the Spring Festival for this exact reason.
What is an appropriate Lunar New Year gift?
Gift giving on Lunar New Year is meant to express both respect and affection for your friends and family. If you’re not someone who usually celebrates Lunar New Year but want to find the perfect present for someone who does, it’s okay to feel unsure about which gifts are most appropriate.
It’s worth knowing that in many Asian cultures, some gifts are thought to be unlucky and therefor are unsuitable to give to a loved one for Lunar New Year. These can include sharp objects such as knives or scissors (not that you’re likely to gift them anyway), as well as watches or clocks, with the latter being known to be symbolic of a relationship coming to an end.
You may also want to avoid objects that are coloured black and white as this can signify death – instead, opt for something that’s painted in the traditional red and gold, which represent good fortune.
After more gift guides? Check out our roundups on the best Valentine’s Day gifts for her, best gifts for girlfriend, best gifts for her, best gifts for men and the best skincare gift sets.
For more shoppable makeup, skincare and wellness content from Glamour UK Beauty Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Read on to check out our edit of the best Lunar New Year gifts to spoil your loved ones…
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Denise Primbet
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