Guide to Celebrating Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year—also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival in China, Tết in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea—is a vibrant and time-honored celebration observed by many cultures around the world. This auspicious occasion marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for family reunions, cultural traditions, and joy-filled festivities.
Our mission at Bo & Mei is to help make celebrating Asian cultural traditions like Lunar New Year easy, inclusive, and meaningful. Here's our comprehensive guide on how to prepare for a joyful Lunar New Year celebration.
Clean and Decorate
Thoroughly clean your home to sweep away any lingering negative vibes from the previous year. Then adorn your space with red decorations to welcome good luck and prosperity in the new year, such as lanterns, wall hangings, couplets, and firecrackers from Bo & Mei’s Prosperity Box.
Set out a Togetherness Tray
The presentation of the Togetherness Tray is a meaningful Lunar New Year tradition, serving as a gesture of hospitality and well wishes to loved ones and guests.
Prepare your Togetherness Tray with an assortment of symbolic treats and delicacies that symbolize good luck, prosperity, happiness, and longevity.
In Bo & Mei’s Togetherness Candy Box, we’ve included the classic strawberry Lucky Candy from Hong Kong (for good luck), the nostalgic creamy White Rabbit candies from Shanghai (for happiness), and chocolate gold coins (for prosperity).
Cook Lucky Foods
Prepare traditional Lunar New Year foods like dumplings, fish, rice cakes, noodles, and oranges, symbolizing wealth, luck, and prosperity.
Gather for Family Feasts
Gather with loved ones for a lavish feast on New Year's Eve, enjoying traditional dishes that hold symbolic meanings. Share stories, exchange blessings, and express gratitude while enjoying a hearty meal together.
Exchange Lucky Red Envelopes and Gifts
Exchange red envelopes filled with money as tokens of good fortune and blessings. Offer other gifts, such at Bo & Mei’s Togetherness Box, symbolizing prosperity and happiness to friends and family.
Celebrate with the Community
Seek out Lunar New Year events in your local community. Enjoy the vibrant energy of dragon and lion dances, parades, and fireworks displays that light up the sky.