Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and many of us are already applying for a few days off, especially amongst the Chinese, not forgetting home decorations, baking and shopping. There are plenty of Chinese New Year decoration ideas that you can try out this year! With some of these ideas, you’ll get an elegant looking home, with stunning Chinese New Year decorations.
Decorations usually start 10 days prior to the day of celebration. Below are 12 cool ideas for your home decoration:
1. Mandarin Oranges or Tangerines
How can one forget the most common Chinese New Year serving, the Mandarin Orange or Tangerine, which symbolizes good fortune? They are commonly served to guests apart from Ang Pows and finger foods. When watching the Chinese Lion Dance show, one will also witness how the skin of the Mandarin Oranges are peeled off for the host. Likewise, they represent wealth, and perhaps when they are shared amongst friends and family, more blessings are shared to those around us too.
2. Orchids
The Chinese love having orchids planted in their homes because they represent fertility and abundance. This belief also exists in ancient Greece. Furthermore, orchids are also used to help parents determine the sex of their unborn child, simply by consuming them –the bigger the portion consumed, the more likely for the woman to bore a baby boy, and the result will be the opposite should the father consumed a smaller portion. For those who are looking forward to having more children, this is definitely another great Chinese New Year decoration ideas. Optionally, you can also have orchids as a gift to guests who are expecting for a baby. They make the perfect gift as they are meaningful, beautiful and long-lasting.
3. Pameloes
Apart from being a symbol of family unity, Pameloes are believed to also bring good luck to a family, which is why you would see them in a Chinese household on this joyous festive season. Some would just have Mandarin Oranges displayed instead.
4. Chinese Red Lanterns
The celebration is incomplete without beautiful red lanterns that shine along Chinatown and households all around the world. Not only do they represent vitality and prosperity, they help create a festive mood for everyone (we mean everyone!).
5. Paper Cut-outs
Red paper cut-outs may seem rather “old-fashioned”, but they’re aren’t always boring if you know what more can they offer! Cut red papers of Chinese zodiac and Chinese characters on them, and then place them on the walls of your home in order to usher in more luck and prosperity in the New Year!
6. New Year Paintings
More blessings to your home when you add some of the most artistic and beautiful Chinese New Year paintings this year. Different paintings may convey different blessings and ideas, so be sure to understand how they work and if they are perfect for your goals this year. You can also have them as a gift to your close friends and relatives.
7. Door Couplets or Spring Couplets
You may have seen these couplets before when visiting your friends and relatives. The Spring Couplets are written on red papers with black ink, and they are hung at the entrance of the house. They are believed to be a good luck charm for the house and its owner.
8. Red Ang Pao
Another symbol of fortune is the Red Ang Pao, which is a monetary gift given by married individuals to non-married individuals on special occasions or holidays. The red coulour of the envelope is a good luck symbol and is believed to be able to ward off evil spirits. These red packets are also given to newly wedded couples. The amount given depends on the giver’s generosity. Bigger amounts are common during weddings especially. Most of us tend to have red packets left over –why not turn them into your Chinese New Year home decoration materials? More Ang Pows around, more fortunes will come!
9. Candy Tray
The Tray of Togetherness usually comes in 8 compartments that are offered to guests. These 8 compartments are significant because they symbolize good luck.
10. Firecrackers
Apart from bright red lights from Chinese Lanterns, the loud sounds of firecrackers are also significant as they are used to scare off evil spirits. It’s a relief to know that!
11. Chinese Knot
You can’t always light up firecrackers just to scare off evil spirits wherever you go. That’s why the Chinese have Chinese Knot as a good luck charm to protect them from supernatural figures. The intricate “endless knots” are in fact a sign of an “endless” life.
12. Bamboo
If you have plenty of space in your home, bamboo plants and stems are great for Feng Shui as they are associated with health, resilience, abundance and a happy home. Not very recommended for individuals living in apartments and condominiums.
Chinese New Year’s Food
Now that you have your decorations ready, it’s time to move forward to what you as a host can offer. On Chinese New Year’s eve, families normally gather together for dinner because the dinner table is the heart of the home after all. Below are some ideas on what you can serve to your guests:
1. Nian Gao or Rice cake
Also known as the Chinese New Year’s Cake, this delicious treat is made of glutinous rice. It is one of the most important dishes during Chinese New Year and eating it is believed to help increase your prosperity every year.
2. Dumplings
Dumplings are filled with vegetables such as cabbage and spring onion, flavoured with pork, chicken, beef, fish or diced shrimp, and shaped to resemble gold and silver ingots to bring wealth to the upcoming years. They are a great appetizer or side dish that can be served at any time of year. According to the Chinese belief, the more dumplings you eat on Chinese New Year, the more money you will be making in the New Year.
3. Fish
In the Chinese language, “Yu” means “fish”, and the word is also similar to that of abundance. The Chinese believe that a whole fish served is equivalent to a whole complete an healthy year.
4. Longevity Noodles
Another of our Chinese New Year favourite foods on the list are the longevity noodles that are typically served in Chinese weddings especially. This is because they are a symbol of long life and one should try his very best to not break any when eating them!
After decorating your home and preparing foods for your guests, it is also great to know the best ways to send out your Chinese New Year greetings cards to your friends and family. Below is a list of some of the most popular greeting wishes:
1. Congratulations and Prosperity: Gong xi fa cái
2. Good luck in the year ahead! : Gong hè xin xi
3. Wishing you prosperity every year: Nián nián you yú
4. May your work go smoothly: G?ngzuò shùnlì
5. Promoting to a higher position: Shengguan facái
6. May you come into a good fortune! : Zhù jíxing gao zhào!
7. Wishing you every success: Madàochénggong
8. May you have the best New Year ever: Yuàn ni dùguò zuì meiho de xinnián!
9. Happy New Year: Xin nián kuài lè
10. Harmony brings wealth: Héqì shengcái
Saving starts with this app.
Shop smart Wherever you go with 100's
stores and 1000's of vouchers to be score!
Download our app below!
Best of all... it's always free.
