9 things Singaporean Chinese buy to prepare for Chinese New Year
Which of these are you going to buy or have bought for Chinese New Year 2024? Read on.
Chinese New Year is happening on 10 February this year. It will see the departure of the Year of the Rabbit and welcome the Year of the Dragon. Have you gotten your house (and yourself) ready for the celebration and gathering?
When Chinese New Year is around the corner, it feels like there are so many things to buy. But what exactly do the Singaporean Chinese buy to prepare for Chinese New Year? Let’s check them out below.
1. New (red) clothes
A new year signifies new beginnings, so wearing new clothes symbolises a fresh start and is believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead. It is also a custom to wear red during Chinese New Year as the auspicious colour red represents prosperity and luck. On the contrary, the colour black is a taboo during Chinese New Year as it represents misfortune.
Chinese New Year Sibling Year Of Dragon Cheongsam Outfit Set
Elevate your child's CNY outfit.
Forest Mandarin Collar Printed CNY 2024 Family Wear
It's cute to see an entire family in matching outfits.
2. New bedsheets
Getting new bedsheets for Chinese New Year is relatively less documented than getting new clothes, but it is nonetheless a tradition for the Singaporean Chinese. There is a Chinese saying that goes along the lines of getting rid of the old and welcoming the new. As we do our spring cleaning, we’ll clear out old items to make space for new things—one of these is the bedsheets. Besides, having new bedsheets also look more presentable when friends and relatives come to visit.
Diana 880TC Silky Linen Bedsheet Set
Sleep better in the new year with this silky linen bedsheet set.
[FineLivin] Queen / King Fitted Bedsheet | Quilt Cover (Sold Separately) | 100% Pure Cotton
Pure cotton bedsheets need not cost an arm and a leg.
3. Festive designs
Although not a tradition, the Singaporean Chinese gladly fall for the marketing tactic of buying daily necessities or household products with Chinese New Year designs. Some examples include tissue boxes, refrigerator handle covers and cushion covers. These usually come in strikingly red designs with cute cartoons that scream Chinese New Year.
New Year Cute Trendy Tissue Box
Pull these tissue boxes out yearly to welcome the new year.
45*45cm Sofa Cushion Cover CNY Decor
Your parents and grandparents will approve of these auspicious looking pillows!
4. Spring couplets and reversed “Fu”
While there are many kinds of Chinese New Year decorations now available in the market, the more traditional ones are the spring couplets and reversed “Fu”. The spring couplet is a pair of auspicious phrases that blesses the home and the occupants, while the reversed “Fu” symbolises the arrival of good fortune.
2024 Chinese New Year Decoration Couplet Stickers
These elaborate and decorative couplets make good home decor.
2024 Chinese New Year Decoration Couplet Stickers
Really up the huats to your house through these front-door couplets stickers.
5. Chinese New Year goodies
As friends and relatives will be visiting, the host must prepare some snacks for the guests. These snacks include the staple bakkwa, delectable cookies, crispy egg rolls, nuts, candies and chocolates. To signify abundance and wealth, chocolates may also come in the form of golden coins, which usually taste absolutely horrible in my opinion. This is probably why people may instead opt for a box of Ferrero Rocher, which is equally shimmering but a lot more enjoyable.
Ferrero Rocher T24 [Italy] (Halal)
Everybody's favourite chocolates.
Xi Shi Gold Coin Pork Bakkwa 500g [CNY] Xishi
Who's going to say no to these? No one!
6. Drinks
Apart from snacks, drinks are also a must-buy. It was a lot more straightforward in the past as people would grab any soft drink. But now, as we become more health-conscious, we’ll source out healthier options like sugarless drinks or drinks with less sugar.
Pokka Houjicha Japanese Roasted Green Tea No Sugar 300ml x 12
For the health-conscious visitors to your home.
Pepsi Black (24 x 320ml)
Less sugar carbonated drinks can be an option too.
7. Festive plants
Plants are mystical beings that can bring vitality to a given space. This can’t be truer for Chinese New Year plants, which may mean prosperity, abundance and wealth depending on the species. Some common festive plants include the Pussy Willow, a long branch of fluffy white (may be dyed red or pink) blossoms; Lucky Bamboo, which is usually meticulously arranged and grown; and Calamondin Orange Trees, a symbol for a fruitful year.
CNY Fresh Pussy Willow Single - 10 stems
Fresh pussy willow dyed in festive colours.
CNY Lucky Bamboo Straight Out Potted Plant
The plant to grace every home during Chinese New Year.
8. Mandarin oranges
When we go house-hopping during Chinese New Year, it is customary to bring two mandarin oranges. All good things come in pairs and mandarin oranges represent happiness and abundance. Usually, we’ll give our blessings as we exchange oranges with the host. For those who are more particular, they will carry the oranges in a specially designed Chinese New Year bag.
Red Beauty Orange 12pcs
A necessity every year.
Chinese New Year Paper Bag
And a bag to place these necessary mandarin oranges.
9. Red packets
Of course, the most important and iconic is the ang bao (red packets in Hokkien). The designs for the red packets have also seen tremendous changes over the years. Moving past dull and boring designs, the red packets now don fanciful colours, intricate embellishments and creative ideas. Occasionally, when you come across interesting designs, you’ll unknowingly put on a smile—the true essence of a joyous celebration, isn’t it?
Chinese New Year Ang Bao
Angbaos just got cuter.
2024 Ang Bao Dragon Year
And then some quirky ones.
