Take a glimpse into our team’s festivities in China

As we celebrate the Lunar New Year, we asked some of the members of our team in China to share how they celebrated this special occasion with their families, their traditions and the campaigns they participated in. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, stands as the most cherished tradition in Chinese culture. It symbolises renewal, hope and the collective dreams for prosperity in the coming year. Falling on the first day of the lunar calendar, this vibrant celebration unites Chinese communities worldwide through a tapestry of rituals, feasts and joy.

Taiyuan: A Blend of History and Modernity

Nathan Dong, Assistant Marketing Manager

Taiyuan, my hometown, is located in the northern part of China and has a history of civilisation for over 5,000 years. It has also been the birthplace of several generations of emperors. Today, Taiyuan retains numerous historical sites, which become even more dazzling during the Chinese New Year. Every household in Taiyuan is decorated in a unique blend of cyberpunk and modernisation, colliding with ancient history to create a distinctive Chinese city and New Year celebration.

The Essence of Chinese New Year

Raymond Li, ASPAC Business Development Director

Out with the Old, In with the New

In the days leading up to the festival, families embark on a thorough cleansing of their homes, a ritual called “sweeping the dust” (扫尘). This represents bidding farewell to the past year’s misfortunes and embracing a fresh start. Once sparkling clean, homes transform into festive havens adorned with crimson decorations: poetic couplets praising harmony, upside-down “Fu” (福) characters symbolising “good fortune arriving” and glowing lanterns casting a warm, auspicious glow.

Family Reunion and Togetherness

The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, or “Nian Ye Fan” (年夜饭), is the heart of the celebration. Millions embark on journeys home, braving crowded trains and flights – a migration dubbed “Chunyun” (春运) – to gather around the table with loved ones. The feast features symbolic dishes: dumplings resembling ancient gold ingots for wealth, fish for abundance, and sticky rice cakes for progress. As laughter fills the air, families tune into the Spring Festival Gala, a star-studded TV extravaganza blending comedy, music and dance.

Visiting Relatives and Exchanging Blessings

The first days of the New Year are marked by visits to relatives and friends. Dressed in new clothes – often red for luck – people exchange greetings like “Xin Nian Kuai Le!” (新年快乐, Happy New Year) and “Gong Xi Fa Cai!” (恭喜发财, Wishing you prosperity). Children eagerly receive “hongbao” (红包), red envelopes filled with money, symbolising protection from hardship. These gestures strengthen bonds and weave a web of goodwill for the year ahead.

My Spring Festival Experience

Brooke Yu, Assistant Finance Manager

The Spring Festival, China’s most important holiday, is always a magical time for my family. This year, preparations began weeks in advance. My parents cleaned every corner of our home to “sweep away bad luck,” while I helped Grandma stick red Spring Festival couplets on our doorframe, symbolising hopes for prosperity.

On New Year’s Eve, the whole family gathered to make dumplings. My little cousin accidentally shaped one like a cartoon character, making us all laugh. At midnight, fireworks painted the sky in dazzling colours as we shouted “Guònián hǎo!” (Happy New Year!). The deafening crackles of firecrackers scared our cat under the sofa!

The highlight was receiving red envelopes from elders. Though Mom always jokingly says, “I’ll keep this safe for you,” her warm hug felt more precious than the money. We stayed up late watching the Spring Festival Gala, munching on crispy rice cakes and candied hawthorns.

For the next week, we visited relatives wearing new red outfits. Each home smelled of sizzling fish (a must for abundance) and sweet rice balls. Even my tech-savvy grandparents surprised us by sending digital red envelopes through WeChat!

The festival ended with the Lantern Festival, when we floated glowing paper lotus lights at the park pond. As I watched my little sister’s excited face reflecting the golden lights, I felt grateful for these traditions that stitch our family closer.

Avonmore China Marketing Team’s Festive Spirit 

Claire Hou, Brand Manager

This January, the Avonmore China marketing team embraced the festive spirit of Chinese New Year with exciting new online activities, blending tradition with innovation. To celebrate the holiday, we developed and shared a series of delightful Chinese New Year recipes on social media, bringing traditional flavours to life for our Food Services Professional followers. Incorporating the symbolism of ‘sweet happiness and family gathering’ from Tanghulu into desserts and beverages, we aimed to inspire festive ideas.

In keeping with the cherished tradition of giving red packets to family and friends, symbolising blessings and good fortune, we introduced a modern twist by designing a digital red packet. This innovative feature, available on WeChat, allows users to send their blessings conveniently and stylishly via their phone.

Let’s come together to embrace and celebrate the rich traditions of Chinese culture. May this Spring Festival bring joy, harmony and prosperity to all.