Celebrated on February 12 this year, on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21, Chinese New Year is likely the most important date in the Chinese calendar. The festival, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, will see China, as well as spots with Chinese communities all around the world light up with firecrackers and fireworks. And there are so many other beloved moments and age-old practices that make Lunar New Year so special, including a scrumptious ‘reunion’ dinner with loved ones, decorations like lanterns, door couplets and paper cuttings, plus gifting young ones and retirees red envelopes with money in them. These various habits and traditions symbolise the renewal of a new year, the passing of an old year and the cultivation of good luck.
This year heralds the Year of the Ox. The second animal of the Chinese zodiac, the ox signifies hard work, positivity and honesty. Whether you want to gift someone dear or treat yourself during the festivities, we’ve picked out top pieces that feature two important customary details that abound at Chinese New Year, gold and red. While the latter stands for luck, joy and happiness, New Year is one of busiest gold-buying occasions as it is representative of the supremacy of emperors throughout China’s history and has been a sign of good luck or fortune for millennia. Click through to see what we've picked put just for you...