Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate with family and friends, filled with time-honoured traditions. As the number of lantern festivals and other festivities light-up New Zealand, we are all in the mood to celebrate the New Year. Here are our suggestions of how to mark the occasion.
1/11
Wear red
Adding a red garment to your outfit, even if it is underwear, is a way to bring yourself good luck during Chinese New Year. Luckily New Zealand brands, including World (pictured), are on the same colour wave-length.
2/11
Buy a rooster
According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, we are entering the year of the Rooster. In Auckland, Parnell is putting on a exhibition of flamboyant, life-size Rooster sculptures created by a range of artists, which will be sold by auction in mid-February.
3/11
Eat at Ancestral
Chinese food with international influenced are on the menu at the sleek restaurant and garden bar at Ancestral, Wellington. Focus on the fish dish as its translation, yú, symbolises a plentiful year ahead.
4/11
Watch a Wong Kar-Wai film
If you haven’t seen a film by film-buff favourite Wong Kai-Wai, now is certainly the time. Our favourite, Chungking Express, follows two different storylines of lonely lovers in Hong Kong with quiet quirk.
5/11
Download WeChat
Last Chinese New Year over 8 billion ‘red packets’ were sent by well-wishers over messaging app We Chat. Jump on the app to send small amounts of money to your friends and family to wish them a prosperous year ahead.
6/11
Go to the gardens
The tranquil Dunedin Chinese Gardens celebrate the city’s Chinese heritage and its sister city, Shanghai. On the last day of Chinese New Year the gardens will stay open at night for a special tea ceremony and traditional music.
7/11
Give a red gift
Why not share some happiness with the gift of Chanel cosmetics? Its make-up stand at Smith & Caughey’s is gift-wrapping presents in bright red wrapping paper and offering special gift sets.
8/11
Find a Lucky, hidden menu
A little bird has told us that Lucky Lucky Dumplings has a secret Chinese New Year menu. All you have to do is crow to find out more about the secret items, including a cheeseburger bao, twice cooked duck pancakes and bao-noffie bao. There’s also a bubble tea cocktail called the rooster booster to match.
9/11
Book a massage
Chinese reflexology treatments like those offered at Bliss are calming messages that help adjust tension levels to nourish and restore your equilibrium.
10/11
Buy new clothes
Chinese New Year is a great excuse to freshen up your wardrobe as a time for new beginnings. Harry’s in Wellington is having a lucky red dot sale where items including Comme des Garçons jewellery are 50 per cent off. Miss Crabb is also getting involved with red envelopes gifted with every purchase and Chinese fortune cookies on the counter.
11/11
Look up at the lanterns
There are a number of lantern festivals across the country that offer vibrant nights-out full of hand-made lanterns, traditional Chinese dancers, street food and market stalls.
Auckland – Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 February, Auckland Domain.
Wellington – Saturday 11 February, Lower Cuba Street.
Christchurch – Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 February, North Hagley Park.
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