The Lunar New Year is here, or as it is more commonly known, The Chinese New Year! Falling between the 10th and 23rd of February in 2024, the coming weeks are sure to be full of excitement and wonder for those celebrating.
A period of time steeped in tradition, in the following blog we'll be discussing some of the highlights of this period as well as exploring the relationship jewellery has with the Lunar New Year!
Three Exciting Factors of the Chinese New Year:
1. Chinese New Year is marked by a riot of colours, with red being the predominant and auspicious colour. Homes and streets are adorned with red lanterns, banners, and traditional paper cutouts symbolising good luck, happiness, and prosperity. The festive atmosphere is visually stunning, creating a lively and joyful ambiance.
2. Lion and dragon dances are an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. These dynamic and acrobatic performances involve performers dressed as lions or dragons, moving to the beat of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The dances are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year. Spectators, both young and old, enjoy the energetic and symbolic performances.
3. Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, where people travel from different parts of the country or even the world to be together. The reunion dinner, held on the eve of the New Year, is one of the most important meals of the year. Families gather to share a feast of traditional dishes, symbolizing abundance, wealth, and good fortune. The emphasis on family and togetherness makes Chinese New Year a heartwarming and significant occasion.
Jewellery and The Chinese New Year:
There is a long-standing tradition in China of gifting those you love something meaningful and special at this time of year, it's considered the main way of showing that you wish that person a prosperous New Year! There are a few particular themes to the items that are given at the Lunar New Year, one of which is the presence of gold.
Golden Jewellery as well as actual gold bars or coins have been given to loved ones for centuries. The tradition is thought to have started due to gold being a recognised symbol of power and prosperity in Chinese History. Emperors are prime examples of this, symbolising wealth and success; everything you would want your family to achieve in the Lunar New Year.
If those who are gifting decide to indulge in golden jewellery for their partner, they may also be inclined to choose jewellery featuring red gemstones, typically Rubies and Garnets. These precious stones are believed to symbolise monetary success as well as affluence. They have been used for centuries in Chinese jewellery and other decorative items, such as pendants, bracelets, and rings.
We'd recommend our Yellow Gold Vermeil Ruby Spiral Jewellery from the Portofino Collection as perfect gifts this Lunar New Year!
Yellow Gold Vermeil Spiral Necklace with Ruby - £295
