Yahoo Finance 13 ways to celebrate Lunar New Year
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3) Explore your zodiac
The leading metaphysical consultant Sean Chan has written a guide to Chinese astrology to help readers learn how the Ox zodiac sign might affect them – from their career and wellbeing to romance.
‘Year of the Ox’ by Sean Chan, £12.99, WH Smith.
SHOP NOWSean Chan - 2/13
1) Decorate your home
Set the scene with Swarovski’s little ox, which has yellow and orange tassels and refracts light to create a glittering display.
Ox ornament, £69, Swarovski.
Swarovski - 3/13
2) Prepare a feast
The Michelin-starred chef Andrew Wong has joined forces with the new food platform Star Chefs to create a Chinese New Year feasting box that will include 13 delectable specially made dishes. From seared Wagyu steak with three sauces and glazed crispy duck to Kingfish ‘yun shang’ with garlic, chilli and coriander soy, and Barbecued sweet corn with beef XO sauce, each of the four courses is as tantalising as the next. Diners will also receive decorations and a curated playlist to set the tone for a spectacular celebration.
Star Chefs x Andrew Wong Chinese New Year box, £165, www.starchefs.co.uk. Available to order now for delivery from 11 to 13 February.
Star Chefs x Andrew Wong - 4/13
4) Plan for the year ahead
Moleskine has created a bright red notebook with golden endpapers showing the ox, flowers and Chinese knots. Inside are two lucky red envelopes, which are traditionally used to gift money to younger loved ones, symbolising good fortune and happiness for the year ahead.
£22.99, Moleskine.
Moleskine - 5/13
5) Send a greetings card
While we can’t celebrate with loved ones this year, send your good wishes with Papier’s specially illustrated card.
£3.50 each, Papier.
Papier - 6/13
6) Write down your hopes
Caran d’Ache has revealed a limited-edition Year of the Ox collector’s pen to celebrate the Lunar New Year – the perfect tool with which to write out hopes for the months to come. The ox is engraved into the pen’s body in Chinese purple lacquer, with a gold-plated clip and a gilt nib.
Fountain pen, £2,600, Caran d’Ache.
Caran d'Ache - 7/13
7) Enjoy some celebratory patisseries and dim sum
The Chinese dim sum teahouse Yauatcha has created a selection of patisseries to mark the arrival of the Lunar New Year, including an oxtail puff and an Oxen-motif-adorned pineapple petit gateau. Beautifully packaged, they are as delightful to gift as to receive.
In addition, the restaurant has designed a special set menu featuring a dim sum selection, a scallop shumai and honey-roasted golden squash.
Yauatcha’s patisseries are available nationwide; the Chinese New Year menu will be available across London via Yauatcha at Home throughout February.
Yauatcha - 8/13
8) Keep the symbol of the ox close
Alighieri has created a modern heirloom that marks the new year. Depicting an ox in plated gold, it ensures the wearer carries the strength of the zodiac animal with them.
Year of the Ox pendant, £195, Alighieri.
Alighieri - 9/13
9) Enjoy a moment of calm reflection
Mariage Frères has a special new blend to commemorate the Year of the Ox, called Buffle. An intense black tea blended with Tibetan goji berries, it is presented in a tin inspired by pagoda towers.
The Year of the Ox tea, £26, Mariage Frères.
Mariage Frères - 10/13
10) Revisit the ancient tale of the Great Race
Read of how each animal earned its place in the Chinese zodiac by taking part in the Great Race with this vibrantly illustrated storybook.
‘The Great Race’ by Christopher Corr, £11.99, Amazon.
Christopher Corr - 11/13
11) Burn incense
Lighting the first incense of the New Year to beckon good fortune is a ritual that dates back more than 2,000 years.
£35, Astier de Villatte.
Astier de Villatte - 12/13
12) Pay homage to the lantern festival
The Yuanxiao Festival (or the ‘lantern festival’) marks the end of the festivities and symbolises reunions – something we are all eagerly awaiting. Until we can be reunited, hang a lantern of your own – such as this hand-painted Taiwanese piece from HK Living.
£485, HK Living.
HK Living - 13/13
13) Reward your efforts
The past year has required us all to work exceedingly hard – much like the Ox does – and for a well-deserved treat, Harvey Nichols has curated a hamper to welcome the Lunar New Year. Including a traditional 10-year-old Baijiu crafted at Xinghuacun Fenjiu, a distillery whose history dates back six millenia; zestly lime and chilli nuts and dark chocolate, the result is a bundle of cheer with which to greet the year ahead.
Lunar New Year hamper, £140, Harvey Nichols.
Harvey Nichols
See in the year of the Ox with at-home festivities
