The classic Lunar New Year gifts are red envelopes of money for children and younger relatives, and something sweet or lucky to take when you visit: mandarins, tea, a box of sweets or treats for the table. Decorations in red and gold, and kit for the reunion dinner such as a hot pot or a bamboo steamer (affiliate link, opens in a new tab), make good presents for the household.
Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat (also called the Year of the Sheep or Ram), and celebrations run until the Lantern Festival fifteen days later. Customs vary a lot between families and regions, so treat the notes below as a guide rather than rules. For what to cook, see our guide to Lunar New Year food and what it means.
Red envelopes: how much to give and how
- Use crisp, new notes. Many people queue at the bank in January for fresh notes; a creased note can look careless.
- Pick amounts carefully. Even amounts and amounts with an 8 are traditionally lucky; amounts with a 4 are avoided because the word sounds like "death" in Chinese.
- Who gives to whom: in many families, married adults give red envelopes to children and to younger, unmarried relatives. Employers sometimes give them to staff.
- Give and receive with both hands, and don't open the envelope in front of the giver.
- The same idea elsewhere: Vietnamese families give lì xì at Tết, and Korean children receive sebaetdon after bowing to elders at Seollal.
Red envelopes and decorations
Red and gold for luck. Many decorations are themed by zodiac year, so check you're buying 2027's Goat rather than 2026's Horse if that matters to you.
- Red envelopes (hongbao)Packs of mixed designs; buy more than you think you'll need.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Hanging decorationsPaper lanterns, fu characters and tassels for doors and windows.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Window clingsReusable paper-cut style designs that don't damage glass.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Lucky cat (maneki-neko)The waving cat is Japanese in origin but a favourite in Chinese shops and restaurants too; a fun, small gift.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
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Gifts to take when you visit
When visiting family or friends over the new year, it's traditional to bring something for the household rather than a personal gift. Mandarins or tangerines are the classic choice (their gold colour stands for wealth), usually given in pairs. Good tea, a box of sweets, nuts or dried fruit, and festive cakes such as nian gao (sticky rice cake) are all welcome. Asian supermarkets fill up with all of these in the weeks before the new year, so it's worth a trip: find a store near you.
For the table
Gifts for the household that get used during the celebrations.
- Candy tray (tray of togetherness)A divided tray for sweets, nuts and dried fruit to offer visitors.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Gongfu tea setA small teapot and cups for serving tea to guests; pair it with a good oolong or jasmine tea from an Asian supermarket.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Chopsticks gift setReusable chopsticks with rests: a small, useful present.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects which shops we list. How we make money.
Gifts for the reunion dinner
The reunion dinner on new year's eve is the biggest meal of the year for many families, so kit for cooking together makes a generous present. Dumplings are a northern Chinese tradition (their shape is said to look like old silver ingots), and hot pot is a favourite for big groups because everyone cooks at the table. Our guides cover dumpling night and hot pot at home.
Reunion dinner kit
Bigger presents for the household cook.
- Divided hot pot: Food Party electric hot pot with dividerAn electric hot pot with a divider, so spicy and mild eaters can share and no separate hob is needed. Popular choice on Amazon UK; we haven't tested it ourselves.View on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Bamboo steamerFor dumplings, buns and whole steamed fish, a new year favourite.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Dumpling rolling pinA small, thin pin for rolling wrappers for a family dumpling session.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Rice cooker: Yum Asia Panda Mini fuzzy logic rice cookerA fuzzy logic rice cooker that copes with big batches and sticky rice. Popular choice on Amazon UK; we haven't tested it ourselves.View on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
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Gifts for children and creative types
Children and creative gifts
Alongside a red envelope, something to make or do.
- Chinese calligraphy setBrushes, ink and paper for writing new year greetings or practising characters.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
- Red envelopes to decoratePlain-ish packs that children can personalise for grandparents.See options on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects which shops we list. How we make money.
Where to buy Lunar New Year gifts in the UK
For red envelopes, decorations, mandarins, tea and festive sweets, an Asian supermarket is usually the best and cheapest option, and many put out new year displays from early January. The busiest shopping is in the week before the new year, so go early. Big Chinatowns such as London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool have several shops close together. Browse every Chinese grocery store in our directory, or read our first-timer's shopping tips.