Level up Your Preparations this Lunar New Year

Also known as the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in the Chinese calendar where families come together to celebrate the beginning of a new year.

From preparing red packets to the yearly spring cleaning, here are some ways to elevate your usual CNY preparations.

A symbolic gesture to bid farewell to the current year, spring cleaning has become a tradition where you rid your home of obsolete things so that you can begin the next year on a fresh note.

Why not take this opportunity to spruce up the space in your home while decluttering for the new year? Enlist the help of stylish home organisers such as Umbra’s Hammock. Featuring a tiered pocket design that can be mounted to the wall or set by the television consoles, it is great for storing small items like keys, sunglasses, and even controllers for your home devices.

For a stylish twist to a clothes rack, consider this unique hub ladder. Its adjustable size allows it to be placed wherever required. You can even bring it out to living room during the festive season for your visitors to hang their bags or umbrellas upon arrival.

If you're looking for something to store your mandarin oranges, how about the SCENE SHANG’s ART DECO Cane Tray? Not only is it fitting for the Lunar New Year, it can easily be repurposed to store other things when the festive season is over.

Don’t forget to begin your spring cleaning at least a week before the Lunar New Year, as any form of cleaning during the first few days is seen as throwing away good luck and fortune.

Legend has it that red papers placed on the front doors of homes helped to fend off Nian, a ferocious monster that attacked humans before the Lunar New Year, as it feared bright colours and loud noises. Nowadays, different decorations have different meanings and households often put them up to enhance the festive mood. Besides the usual bright red decor, you can also enhance the look of your home with one-of-a-kind festive decorations.

A must-have decoration in one’s home is “fu dao”. It is common to place the Chinese character upside down during the Lunar New Year as it indicates that “fu” or prosperity has arrived. For a modern rendition, consider Rehyphen’s Musiccloth Fu Poster where the “fu” character is woven using cassette tape albums. This stylish piece would definitely impress your visitors and even spark some interesting conversations.

Usher in the Year of the Ox with Royal Selangor’s Limited Edition Ox Plaque. Embellished in 24K gold, it features an ox moving purposefully in an upward direction. Signifying new opportunities for flourishing relationships, careers and prosperity, this symbolic plaque will make an auspicious gift for your parents or even grandparents.

Impress your friends and relatives with an array of CNY goodies beyond the usual suspects of bak kwa, pineapple tarts and salted egg yolk crisps. Go for a combination of spicy and savoury flavours with Shermay’s Party Snack set. Pair the crispy prawn crackers and emping (bitternut crackers) with the citrusy cilicuka and sambal dipping sauces to keep your guests coming back for more.

For a dose of sweetness, stock up on locally-made artisanal chocolate with an Asian twist in flavours. For instance, bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Fossa Chocolate draws inspirations from Singapore's favourite dishes to come up with unique and bold flavours such as salted egg cereal and chilli peanut praline.

Offer unique cold beers with interesting flavours from local craft brewery for a change. 1925 Brewing Co incorporates ingredients such as chrysanthemum and lychee in their brews. With the perfect balance of sweetness and a mild maltiness, the Liang Teh Chrysanthemum Lager and Lychee Pale Lager are both refreshing and crisp, and would surely be popular amongst the uncles and fellow beer drinkers. 

Yet another thing to look forward to is shopping for new clothing. The tradition of wearing new clothes on the first day of Lunar New Year symbolises a new and fresh start. Donning auspicious colours are an added bonus as this brings about good luck and prosperity.

For ladies, this can be as simple as putting on a brightly coloured piece, such as R Y E’s V-Neck Panelled Dress. Stylish and modern, this asymmetrical dress is the ideal hue to ring in the new year and can also be worn year-round.

If you prefer neutral or darker colours, elevate your New Year #ootd with colourful accessories like Binary Style’s Very Lucky Scarf – a fun piece incorporating auspicious elements like ingots, pineapples and mandarin oranges. Or pair your outfit with Cocoonese’s range of handmade bags and purses, featuring unique floral designs that are perfect for festive gatherings.     

The new year is also the best time for guys to try out a different look. Don’t be afraid to wear a colourful or floral shirt like Onlewo's Singa Flore or The Shirt Bar’s Leaf Print Shirt. They can be easily matched with a pair of khaki or dark coloured pants, without the outfit coming across as being overwhelming. Who knows? They may even become a staple in your wardrobe.

For a more subtle option, you can weave in a dash of colour in your choice of accessories, such as completing your outfit with a maroon belt or a pocket square.

Reunion dinners are an important part of welcoming the Lunar New Year, where families come together to spend quality time with each other and start the New Year on a good note.

With safe distancing in place, it may be difficult for large families to gather. With the help of technology, you can still celebrate and have your reunion dinners virtually - that way you are still able carry on the tradition and enjoy each other’s company while keeping safe. 

To spice up this year’s festive dinners at home, try your hand at making your own lo hei with fresh vegetables, the fish of your liking and even fruits for a touch of sweetness. It’s not only an activity that the whole family can participate, but also a healthier option to have at home.

If you are looking for a unique Lunar New Year dining experience to treat your family to, book one of the festive menus that is specially curated by Michelin-starred chef Zhu Jun from SIA@Home. In addition to Singapore Airlines’ signature satay, the meal comprises of Fa Cai Yu Sheng, abalone and sea kelp appetisers, main courses such as braised duck, completed with a seasonal dessert in celebration of Lunar New Year.

We wish you all the best in your CNY preparations and a prosperous year ahead! Don’t forget to join in the festivities with our ongoing auspicious deals and more.