Chinese New Year Gift Guide 2016

Hong Kong festivities come alive during Chinese New Year, and the celebratory events are numerous. Though the date varies from year to year, the holiday is celebrated for days on end. Families spend time together and welcome the arrival of the new season: spring. They watch fireworks, participate in traditional parades, and attend the Spring Lantern Festival. They also come together to give gifts.

Gifting traditions do surround Chinese New Year, and the traditional presents are not unlike other holidays. The main difference is that each year comes with a new zodiac sign to consider, and gifting customs often revolve around this. Not sure what to give your loved ones this holiday? Consider some of these fantastic options.

Best Gifts for Chinese New Year

There are plenty of fantastic gifts you can give your loved ones this holiday. Gift hampers are always a solid choice, especially because they offer a variety of items. You can match your recipient’s interests to the gift hamper you have selected for them. This is also a fantastic gift for a family because you can include more than one item, ensuring everybody gets something special out of your present.

Fruit is a great gift for Chinese New Year, especially if you can find a lovely assortment. Seasonal fruits include kiwis, plums, apples, grapes, and oranges. If you know somebody aspiring to be more health-conscious, a basket of fruit is a great way to go. Oranges are among the most common fruit to be given on Chinese New Year based on its symbolism.

Otherwise, desserts are also a great choice. You can give sweets to somebody hosting a Chinese New Year party so that you are contributing to the spread of treats available. Appease your host’s sweet tooth with truffles, biscuits, and delicious chocolates.

Plants are a great choice of gift, especially as they symbolize the beauty of the year and commemorate the oncoming of spring. The flower markets are typically open during the festivities to ensure that you can buy a plant or arrangement that your recipient will adore. Still, you should be wary of giving somebody cut flowers, as these are typically present at funerals and could have a bad connotation.

Finally, wine is another great gift. You can send a bottle of French red wine to somebody special, encouraging them to have a fruitful and fun year.

Dos and Don’ts of Chinese New Year Gifts

DO give gifts in shades of red. It is common to give Lai See, red envelopes that often contain money. Red, especially when paired with gold, is symbolic of good fortune and luck in the year ahead.

DO give food as a present. Food is actually quite symbolic in Chinese culture, and the items you present can say a lot about your relationship.

DO pay special attention to the host. The host of your event deserves their own gift if you have been invited to a party or gathering.

DO give plants. You can even order a plant online to ensure that the delivery gets there on time. You won’t even have to visit the store!

DON’T give any gifts that include the number 4. This word for this number in Chinese sounds very similar to the word for ‘death.’ This makes anything related to the number unlucky. You should not give gifts in sets of four.

DON’T give any presents that are sharp. Gifts with pointed edges actually indicate that you are looking to cut off your relationship.

DON’T give pears. We already told you that fruit is an excellent gift for Chinese New Year; however, you should never give anybody a pear for a present. The word for ‘pear’ is much too similar to words associated with leaving.

DON’T give chrysanthemums. They are commonly associated with funerals and thus not welcome for Chinese New Year.

DON’T give mirrors. Not only are mirrors often thought to be an attraction for malicious spirits, but mirrors are also easily broken. If somebody were to accidentally break a mirror, it would be a bad omen.

Chinese New Year is eagerly anticipated throughout the year, and the fun lasts about two weeks. Giving gifts to the people you care about most is a great way to celebrate the holiday and bring about good fortune for the year ahead of you.