On 10 February 2024, the Chinese New Year of the Dragon slithers into action - and we've found the best Lunar Year gifts. One of the most important aspects of the Lunar New Year is the Chinese zodiac, which is a system that assigns an animal to each year in a 12-year cycle. The animal for each year is thought to influence the personality and fortune of people born in that year. If you are interested in learning about the symbolism of The Year of the Dragon, the Lunar New Year animals and what to expect these coming months, then here is our guide to the Lunar New Year 2024.
The holiday is sometimes called the Lunar New Year due to the dates of celebration following the phases of the moon. The Lunar New Year is a time of joy and celebration, and it is a lovely opportunity for people to come together and honour their traditions and cultural heritage. It is a holiday that is celebrated by people of all ages and is an important part of the cultural tapestry of many countries in East Asia.
Best Lunar Year gifts at a glance
• Best Lunar New Year calendar gift: Year of the Dragon 2024 Calendar - view on Amazon UK
• Best Lunar New Year gift: The Lunar New Year Gift Box - view at Fortnum + Mason
• Best Lunar New Year clothing gift: Year of the Dragon Zodiac T-Shirt - view on Etsy UK
What is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year is a holiday that is celebrated by many people around the world, especially in countries in East Asia such as China, Korea, and Vietnam. Sometimes known as the Spring Festival in China, it is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. Lunar New Year is based on the lunar calendar, which means that the date of the holiday changes each year.
The holiday typically falls in January or February, and it is a time for people to come together with their families, swap gifts, and partake in traditional cultural activities. It is also a time to honour ancestors and welcome the new year with good fortune and prosperity. If you are looking to find someone the perfect Lunar New Year gift, here are our suggestions and make sure you check out The Year of the Wood Dragon 2024 predictions at the end of the article.
The best Lunar New Year gifts 2024
Best Lunar New Year calendar gift
This beautiful Year of the Dragon 2024 Calendar will make an excellent gift for the Lunar New Year, with bright and delicate colours - fine and like brushwork. It'll look great on your wall.
Customer review: "I love the calendar, it's nice and vibrant and brightens up the kitchen."
Best Lunar New Year mug gift
www.etsy.com
You can never go wrong with a mug. Commemorate the Lunar New Year with this sweet Year of the Dragon Mug. Crafted from durable ceramic, this mug has a glossy finish and is very elegant.
Customer review: "Very cute and nice quality mug."
Best Lunar New Year necklace gift
www.etsy.com
Customise this Chinese New Year Zodiac necklace in the year of the Dragon or with the zodiac you were born under with this beautiful plated disc necklace. It comes in silver, stainless steel, rose gold or gold and your chosen length and engraving. The necklaces are sent in a gift box, ready to present to someone you love.
Customer review: "Thank you for minding my special wishes; it looks so beautiful. Amazing work!"
Best Lunar New Year candle gift
www.etsy.com
This scented soy wax Personalised Lunar New Year Candle - Dragon makes a beautiful personalised gift to usher in the Year. Choose your scent - with a personalised message, arriving in a signature gift box.
Customer review: "The candle is amazing! Love the personalise design. Perfect gift. Highly recommend!"
Best Lunar New Year gift
www.fortnumandmason.com
Spoil someone with this fantastic Lunar New Year Gift Box from Fortum and Mason. Filled with everything you need to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, this gift box includes A Triumph of Chocolate Tortoises, Chocolate Gold Coins, delightful Piccadilly Stem Ginger Biscuits and Lunar New Year Iced Biscuits – a scrumptious partner to our Green Tea with Mandarin.
Best Lunar New Year notebook gift
www.etsy.com
If you are looking for a Chinese New Year 2024 planner to help you organise your plans, write down the weekly tasks or as a great gift to friends and family, then this Year of the Dragon Notebook is a fine choice. With lined pages to fill, this colourful book will help you stay on top of your goals.
Customer review: "The colour was not as bold as I expected, but the shipping was fast and the kid was happy."
Best Lunar New Year clothing gift
www.etsy.com
Coming in a range of sizes and fits, these Year of the Dragon Zodiac T-shirts and Sweatshirts are suitable for everyone. The Dragon design is an amazing present idea for celebrating the Lunar New Year and makes a trendy t-shirt or sweater for your wardrobe too.
Customer review: "T-shirt looks just like the picture being promoted."
Best Lunar New Year coin gift
Commemorate the start of a new lunar cycle with the perfect gift for someone born under the sign of the Dragon. This coin graded from The Royal Mint is a fusion of British and Chinese culture and the tenth release in Te Shēngxiào Collection. The CrawleyCoins 2024 Chinese Lunar Year of Dragon makes an excellent gift for collectors too.
Best Lunar New Year ornament gift
These Chinese New Year 2024 Dragon Ornaments are part of a collection of Chinese New Year decorations and are made of plush fabric - perfect as a gift or as decoration. The Chinese Year of the Dragon doll will carry hopes in 2024 that people can be safe, healthy, happy and rich.
Customer review: "These are so fab and made Chinese New Year really festive!"
Best Lunar New Year sweet gift
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Enjoy the Lunar New Year with this beautiful New Year Oreo gift box containing six crunchy original Oreos coated in delicious creamy white Belgian chocolate and hand decorated to mark the year of the dragon. Plus, you can personalise this special gift with the Family Name or an individual name on it too. Perfect for any sweet tooth foodie in your life.
Customer review: "A lovely gift for a special occasion. The recipient had a wonderful surprise. Beautiful presentation too."
Best Lunar New Year envelope gift
www.etsy.com
Over the Lunar New Year, people often decorate their homes with red lanterns and paper cuttings, and they give red envelopes filled with money as gifts to children and loved ones. These Chinese Lunar New Year Year of Dragon 2024 Red Envelopes are perfect for doing just that.
Best Lunar New Year card
www.moonpig.com
Send someone a personalised Lunar New Year card with Moonpig. Featuring a huge range of customisable designs, you can send an e-card or card to the recipient in the post.
Best Lunar New Year book gift
Following the Water Rabbit year, the Wood Dragon energy will bring in a year to restore confidence and change. Learn how to harness this vibrant new power with this Thrive in the Year of the Dragon book. If you would like to explore how Western and Eastern zodiacs are combined to give the most accurate reading of your unique personality, then this is the book for you.
FAQs
What is the Lunar New Year 2024 animal?
2023 is The Year of the Dragon, and in Chinese culture, the dragon is known to be an auspicious and extraordinary creature, according to China Highlights. It is "unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolises power, nobility, honour, luck, and success." 2024 seems to be forced on new opportunities to grow. If you're seeking a shift in your current lives, this year might offer a chance for things to get better.
The Dragon Chinese Zodiac falls on the year for those who were born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024.
Not only are the new years in Chinese astrology characterised by one of twelve animals but also by the five elements. These are also incorporated as the zodiac shifts through a different element each year:
Wood
Metal
This is no ordinary Dragon year - 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon, which has not been seen since 1964. Wood Dragons are courageous, outgoing and socially conscious.
What are the Lunar New Year animals?
The Chinese zodiac is a system of assigning an animal to each year in a 12-year cycle. The animals are believed to influence the personality and fortune of people born in that year. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
Each person's zodiac sign is decided by their birth year. Find out what yours is here and if you want to find the symbolism of each animal, read this guide to learn about your year's unique personality.
What is The Year of the Dragon meaning? 2024 predictions
The dragon is the fifth animal in the cycle. After a turbulent few years, the dragon is thought to bring some courage to your life, as it is the most confident out of all the twelve animals.
Last year was The Year of the Rabbit - a year that hopefully brought some calm and serenity to your lives - as it is believed to be the luckiest out of all the twelve animals.
As mentioned earlier in the article, not only are the new years in Chinese astrology characterised by one of twelve animals, but also by the five elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water as the zodiac shifts through a different element, each year.
Ellen Kinsey was a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer and has been a part of Bauer Media since 2020. She has left Bauer Media to study Ayurveda in India to expand her knowledge and skills in the health and wellness field, where she plans to continue making journalistic contributions.
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