Lunar New Year marks one of the year's biggest holidays in many parts of Asia and the world; most notably in China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. The holiday is celebrated with various traditions and customs, from parades and fireworks displays to family gatherings and gift-giving. For this holiday season, we've rounded up a few festive items to help you celebrate in style and be sure to stay tuned for a special new year’s giveaway on our Instagram pages (@hbx, @hbxwm)!
HBX EXCLUSIVE RED PACKETS
For many, the highlight of this celebration is the highly-coveted Red Packets or "Lai See", which are small envelopes filled with money. These packets are given out during Lunar New Year celebrations as a token of prosperity and good luck for each recipient in the coming year. This year, HBX has teamed up with renowned fashion brands Human Made and Needles, as well as artist MADSAKI, to curate a set of exclusive red packets in celebration of Lunar New Year. The red packets in prosperous red and gold come in a set of 3 unique graphics designed by each collaborator and are available from now as a gift upon purchase of US$250 or more. Terms and conditions apply.
NEW YEAR, NEW CLOTHES
The new year also calls for bringing in the new and doing away with the old, including your wardrobe! In Chinese culture, tradition calls for dressing up in new clothes for the celebration. However, be sure to steer clear of black and white garments as both colors are symbols of bad fortune. Instead, stick with red and gold hues, which are popular choices that symbolize both good luck and prosperity.
STEP INTO THE NEW YEAR
Take a step into the Year of the Rabbit with a fresh pair of kicks but be sure to make any new purchases well before the new year begins, as it is considered a bad omen to buy new shoes just before the occasion. Instead, it is best to purchase your footwear well in advance and break them in for a few weeks before wearing them on New Year’s Day. Lastly, steer clear of giving shoes as a gift for the Lunar New Year, as it symbolizes death and bad luck—you've been warned!
GOLD FOR PROSPERITY
Gold jewelry is one of the most popular gifts for the Lunar New Year and for good reason — gold symbolizes prosperity and success; in antiquity, it represented the supremacy of the emperors of China, which makes it the perfect gift to give or receive on this special occasion. However, if gold isn't your color then consider jewelry made of silver or jade. While not as popular as gold, these materials also symbolize prosperity and good fortune. In fact, the Chinese word for silver is “yin” which also means “to grow old gracefully”.