Spring Cleaning
A week before Chinese New Year’s Day, families thoroughly clean their homes. This tradition symbolizes the removal of negative energy from the past year and the welcoming in of good fortune in the upcoming year. The day presents a great opportunity to refresh the home. Transform each bedroom with new bedding. Strip the bed of any dark colors and rejuvenate it with a lighter color. In the nursery, swap out a heavy quilt on the crib for a light blanket to foster a springlike feel in the room. Meanwhile, a home office should be decluttered and organized for an auspicious year. Begin by throwing away any unnecessary documents that take up space. Papers you do want to keep can go into filing cabinets or in a flat basket on the desk. Complement your newly cleaned work area with a sleek bookcase to showcases awards, degrees and books. Accessorize it with botanicals and decorative vases for a refined look. Don’t forget about larger pieces of furniture, either. Spot treat leather furniture with a leather stain remover then apply a leather conditioner. In the dining room, revive the wood dining table with a vinegar and warm water rinse, dry thoroughly and apply a thin layer of furniture polish for a luxe finish.
Reunion Dinner
Participate in the most significant event of the holiday—the family reunion. Family members often travel great distances to reunite with close relatives for the Chinese New Year’s Eve meal. From food to color, the New Year’s table is full of symbolism. Red represents good fortune. Dress the table with a red tablecloth and coordinate with ruby red placemats. Layer white dinnerware over gold charger plates to play up notions of purity and wisdom. Decorate the setting with a red napkin tucked inside a gold napkin ring for a cohesive aesthetic. Gold utensils and flatware will enhance the feeling of good fortune and prosperity. For a cultivated Spring Festival place setting, replace forks with chopsticks on a rest to incorporate the spirit of the feast. As a final touch, place a red envelope containing chocolate coins and money over the children’s plates, representing good fortune. After preparing cultural dishes such as spring rolls, fish and a sweet nian gao cake, be sure to serve them on round platters. The circular shape symbolizes unity and oneness, fostering conversations and lifelong memories around the table.
Decor
To prepare for the year ahead, every household decorates their home in red. This powerful color represents good luck and joy, the two most important hopes of a new year. Doors, windows and ceilings are all adorned with red lanterns and firecrackers to promote a prosperous year. Depending on the year, homes will also decorate with images of the year’s zodiac animal to welcome in good fortune. Chinese New Year decorations can also be incorporated into the home in everyday ways as well. For example, swap out out decorative pillows for red ones. For the coffee table, craft a flickering centerpiece by mixing red and gold candles on a serving tray. Add a dragon figurine to the platter as another symbol of luck. Drape a fireplace mantel with a garland of delicate blossoms or a Chinese banner in the kitchen, use red cookware as a cooking accent. Fish can be steamed in a large baking dish, while noodles are prepared over the stove in a durable wok. Welcome guests and a promising future into the home, by pairing a red wreath with New Year couplets (traditional scrolls of paper) over the front door.
The century-old traditions of the Spring Festival live on throughout the world—from mainland China to Chinatowns found in many of the world’s major cities. Chinese New Year decor acts as a binding force for Chinese families throughout the world, instilling excitement and enthusiasm for what’s to come. Let us know how you celebrate Chinese New Year using the hashtag #CrateStyle.