The traditional Chinese New Year gifts are fruit, sweets and red envelopes of money for children. If you are invited to someone's home, a bag of mandarins or oranges in an even number is always right. A few things are avoided because their names sound unlucky in Chinese: clocks, pears, umbrellas, shoes, sharp objects and anything that comes in a set of four.
In 2027 the visiting season runs from February 6, New Year's Day, to February 20.
Why do gifts matter at Chinese New Year?
The days after New Year's Day are spent calling on relatives and friends, and by custom nobody arrives empty-handed. Gifts are modest and practical, mostly things to eat. The thought being expressed is a wish for a sweet and prosperous year, so the meaning of the item counts for more than its price.
What are good gifts to bring?
Fruit. This is the safest and most traditional choice. Mandarins, tangerines and oranges are favorites: their golden color suggests wealth, and their names sound like words for luck and gold. Pomelos are welcome too. Give them in pairs or larger even numbers, and choose fruit with the leaves still attached if you can find it. A mixed fruit basket also works, as long as it leaves out pears.
Sweets and snacks. The foods offered to new year visitors are sweet: candied fruit, dates, peanuts, dried longans and lotus seeds are traditional. A box of candy, cookies or chocolates fits right in.
A plant. A small kumquat tree is a classic new year gift in southern China, because its name sounds like the words for gold and good luck. Blossoming branches, orchids and peonies are traditional flowers of the season.
Red envelopes. If there are children in the house, a red envelope with a little money for each one is the most traditional gift of all. Amounts, lucky numbers and how to hand them over are covered in red envelope etiquette.
Who gets what?
| Recipient | Usual gift |
|---|---|
| Your hosts | Fruit, sweets or a plant |
| Children of the family | Red envelopes |
| Elders | Fruit or sweets, offered with a wish for good health |
| Colleagues and clients | A shared box of fruit or sweets; employers traditionally give staff red envelopes |
Customs differ by family and region, so if you are unsure, ask your host or a friend who celebrates. People are glad to be asked.
Which gifts are traditionally avoided, and why?
Almost all of these come down to wordplay. A gift whose name sounds like an unlucky word carries the wrong message, whatever the giver intends.
| Gift | Why it is avoided |
|---|---|
| Clocks and watches | "Giving a clock" sounds like a phrase for a funeral send-off |
| Pears | The word sounds like "to part" or "to leave" |
| Umbrellas (and fans) | The words sound like "to scatter" or "to separate" |
| Shoes | The Mandarin word sounds like "evil"; shoes also suggest walking away |
| Knives and scissors | Sharp objects suggest cutting the relationship |
| Anything in a set of four | "Four" sounds like "death" |
| Hats | Linked with mourning; a green hat is a well-known insult |
| Mirrors | Believed to attract bad luck |
These customs apply to gift-giving all year round, and they matter most on happy occasions such as the new year, a wedding or a birthday.
If you have already bought one of these, there is a traditional way out. With a clock or a watch in particular, the receiver can hand the giver a coin, which turns the gift into a purchase and cancels the omen.
How should you wrap and present a gift?
- Choose red. Red is the color of luck. Gold goes well with it.
- Avoid all-black or all-white. A gift or wrapping that is entirely black or white recalls funerals.
- Think in pairs. Two of something, or a set of eight, is better than four. Good things are said to come in pairs.
- Hand it over with a greeting. Xin nian kuai le, "happy new year," is enough. More phrases are in our guide to Chinese New Year greetings.
What should you bring to a reunion dinner?
The New Year's Eve dinner is traditionally a family meal, the most important of the year, so an invitation is a warm gesture. In 2027 it falls on Friday, February 5. Ask your hosts whether they would like you to bring a dish; otherwise a small gift is enough.
A good plan for a first-time guest:
- A box or bag of mandarins or oranges, in an even number.
- A box of sweets for the table.
- A red envelope for each child, prepared in advance with a new bill.
Then arrive on time and greet the oldest people in the room first.
Is a Goat-themed gift a good idea in 2027?
Yes. The zodiac animal of the year appears on cards, red envelopes, decorations and small keepsakes, and a goat or sheep motif is right for the year that begins on February 6, 2027. It is an especially nice touch for a baby due in the Goat year, or for someone born in an earlier one, such as 1979, 1991, 2003 or 2015.
The year, its dates and what the sign means are covered on our Year of the Goat 2027 page. For the thinking behind lucky and unlucky numbers, see Chinese New Year superstitions, and for what will be on the table, Chinese New Year food. More gift ideas for other occasions are in our gifts section.