5 Things to Prepare Before Chinese New Year
The start of the year always seems to zoom by in meetings and
resolutions, and before you know it, we’re almost at Chinese New Year again.
Credit: Unsplash / Ari He
Lunar New Year is
always a time of celebration and reunion, and despite the COVID-19 restrictions
in 2021, we still managed to find cheer amidst the gloom. This year, I’m sure
we’ll all still manage to find some way to reconnect with relatives and friends
over this festive period.
Before we dive
into festivities, let’s get ready our new outfits, angbao money and
Chinese New Year goodies. Aside from spring cleaning, are you still at a loss
as to how you can prepare for the upcoming Lunar New Year? Check out this list
of 5 things to prepare before Chinese New Year.
1. Schedule visiting slots
This may just be
the most important part of Chinese New Year preparations, amidst our current
pandemic situation.
Spend a little
time before the festivities start, and figure out who’s going to be visiting
whom, and when. For Excel fanatics and those who love being organised, Google
calendar and spreadsheets will be your new best friend.
Credit: Unsplash / Galen Crout
We can only visit
in groups of five after all, so make sure you maximise it while still staying
well within regulations.
2. Book your beauty appointments
Credit: Unsplash / hazy momo
For those of you
who treat every Lunar New Year like it’s your personal fashion runway, make
sure you’ve scheduled all your beauty appointments. I’m talking about
manicures, hair appointments, facial treatment – the works.
With COVID-19
restrictions, your coveted appointment spots are sure to be even more limited.
There’s usually a festive surcharge, so book as soon as you can.
Who knows, picking
the correct hair and nail colour might just give you that extra luck boost for
the new year!
3. Get new clothes
Whether you
believe in the superstition behind celebrating Lunar New Year with new clothes,
it’s always a good excuse time to refresh your wardrobe.
Credit: Unsplash / Jeyakumaran Mayooresan
Most stores or
online shops tend to have Chinese New Year sales, so make the most of it. Or
keep things sustainable, and thrift your “new” outfits instead – you’ll skip
the fast fashion step and reduce the amount of fabric waste.
4. Get new notes
For those of us
who have to give out angbaos instead of receiving them, this is one
crucial step that we cannot skip.
Credit: Unsplash / Jason Leung
Digital angbaos
are on the rise, but for those of us who prefer the feeling of holding cold,
hard cash, make sure you withdraw enough $2, $5, $10 and $50 notes to stuff
your red packets with.
And when you’re
considering how much to put in each angbao, remember, it’s the thought
that counts.
Check out the locations and details of various banks, and don’t leave it to the last minute!
5. Pick up new Chinese greetings
How boring would
it be if the only Chinese New Year phrase we all uttered was 恭喜发财 (may you be wealthy) and 新年快乐 (happy
new year)?
Credit: Unsplash / Hiep Duong
Let 2022 be the year that you “level up” your
repertoire of Chinese New Year greetings!
· 和气吉祥全家乐
(hé
qì jí xiáng quán jiā lè): may you and your family have harmony
and joy
· 福寿双全
(fú
shòu shuāng quán): may you have both longevity and a blessed
life
· 生意兴隆
(shēng
yì xīng long): may your business grow and flourish
· 虎虎生威，虎年更猛 (hǔ hǔ shēng wēi, hǔ nián gèng měng):
prosper with fury like a tiger and be successful in the Year of the Tiger
· 虎年如意 (hǔ nián rú yì): may all things go as planned in the Year of the Tiger
What are you waiting for? Make sure you tick off
everything on this list before the eve of Chinese New Year!
Written by:
“Dream big and keep your head in the clouds, but plan well and keep your feet on the ground.”