Lunar New Year at Fortnum's

LUNAR NEW YEAR

AT FORTNUM'S

LUNAR NEW YEAR

AT FORTNUM'S

Read Time 3 minutes

LNY 2025

Read Time 3 minutes | LNY 2025

Fireworks illuminate the skies, dragons dance through the streets in a blaze of colour and light, and mooncakes are enjoyed en masse. It can only be Lunar New Year - and as we have done for many years, Fortnum’s is celebrating the glorious arrival of the Year of the Snake.

Lunar New Year - sometimes known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival - is without a doubt the most important holiday in China. Commonly falling between Late January and Mid February, it marks the first day of the first month in the traditional Lunar Chinese calendar - which is based on the cycles of the moon, meaning the date of Lunar New Year is different every year.

And while the many celebrations are spectacles to behold, at the heart of Lunar New Year is the welcoming of good fortune and spending time with loved ones, observed by traditions and customs passed down by generations. Gift-giving is also an important part of the holiday, which is why Fortnum's is the perfect place to celebrate this special occasion. Our Lunar New Year range is its own vibrant carnival of glorious gifts, joy-filled hampers, exceptional biscuits and confectionery, extraordinary tea, coffee and more.

So start discovering more about this celebratory time of year, as well as our Lunar New Year range.

SHOP LUNAR NEW YEAR

The Origins of Lunar New Year

According to legend, thousands of years ago in ancient China there was a fearsome monster named Nian, whose name means ‘Year’, who lived in the wilderness. However, at the turn of every new year when the new moon was in the sky, Nian would descend on villagers and frighten them in their homes. Fortunately, a wise village elder discovered that Nian was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the colour red. So when Nian returned, the villagers loudly banged every drum they had, lit every fire cracker they could and donned themselves head to toe in red. The great beast fled and never returned. That’s why celebrations to usher out the old year and bring forth the luck and prosperity of the new one often include firecrackers, fireworks, and red clothes and decorations - and young people are given money in colourful red envelopes.

Each year is represented by an animal from the Chinese zodiac chosen by the Jade Emperor many centuries ago - and this year, it’s the Year of the Snake. People born in this year are called "Snakes" and are believed to be mysterious, smart, determined and caring.

The story goes that many centuries ago, the Jade Emperor held a race with all the animals of China, stating that the winning animals who reached his palace would have a year named after them. The animal that placed first was the rat, so the first year is named after him. The other eleven, in order, were the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Find the Perfect Gift

Lunar New Year celebrations take many forms, but preparations usually begin long before the event, with families adorning their homes with paper decorations, and stocking up on food for celebratory banquets.

Lasting around 15 days, people often visit relatives and friends, go shopping, watch traditional Chinese New Year events, launch fireworks, and plan for the coming year, while the streets are filled with vibrant celebrations - including a parade at nighttime, where a long, colourful dragon is carried through the streets by numerous dancers.

But when it comes to gift-giving, there are a few dos and don'ts. Popular gifts for friends at this time of year include alcohol, fruit and tea, while for little ones it's traditional to gift them a red envelope with money inside. There are some gifts, however, that are considered forbidden, such as mirrors, handkerchiefs and umbrellas.

So if you're looking for the right gift, our Lunar New Year range has everything needed for anyone seeing in the Year of the Snake!