You know that Chinese New Year is right around the corner when those tunes start blasting from supermarkets and shopping malls, with red decorations all over. If your CNY prep is getting a little overwhelming, fret not as Shopee is here to help!

Here’s a checklist on how to prepare for Chinese New Year:

1. Spring Cleaning Your House 🧹

It is traditional for families to spring clean their houses before the start of the new year. The word ‘dust’ (尘) in Chinese is a homophone for ‘old’, thus cleaning the house is symbolic of driving away the bad luck of the previous year to allow for a new start.

2. Decorating Your House 🧨

The tradition has its origins in an ancient story where people would put red lanterns and spring couplets in their houses to drive away the nian monster, and pray for blessing and longevity. Some of the decorations include spring festival couplets, paper cutting, red lanterns, new year paintings, and fresh flowers.

3. Buying New Clothes 🛍️

It is believed that wearing new clothes from head to toe symbolizes a new start and fresh hopes for the New Year. One usually wears red or other brightly-colored clothes on New Year’s Day, to go with the festive and upbeat mood.

4. Preparing Hongbaos 🧧

Hongbaos (red packets) are given as tokens of good wishes to the younger generation, and bring good luck to the giver at the same time. Psst… here are some well wishes for the Year of the Tiger!

• 虎年大吉 (hǔ nián dà jí) – Wishing you luck in the Year of the Tiger
• 虎虎生威 (hǔ hǔ shēng wēi) – Wishing you fullness of the vigor and vitality of the Tiger

5. Preparing for Reunion Dinner 🍲

Chinese New Year is a great time for family reunions. Families gather together for a reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve 年除夕 to usher in the new year with those closest to you!

6. Putting out CNY Goodies 🍍

Image credit: Ding Bakery

The best part about Chinese New Year is the goodies! Some traditional snacks include: bak kwa, pineapple tarts, love letters and more, with each snack symbolic of something auspicious. For example, pineapple tarts are said to bring prosperity and luck to the home as pineapple is called ‘ong lai’ in Hokkien, which translates to ‘prosperity or good fortune has come’.

There’s no better time to get your CNY shopping sorted than the Shopee CNY Sale happening from now till 2 Feb 2022! Enjoy $58 Cashback Available All Day For Everyone, unlimited and guaranteed for all users during the monthly 25 Super Shiok Sale on 25 Jan 2022, and stack $8 off vouchers on 1,888+ Brands for the biggest savings to unlock roaring low prices – without having to queue at all!

Here’s a list of products to help with your last minute CNY preparation.

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