T
he West’s New Year celebrations may have come and gone, but another new year is beckoning: Chinese lunar new year.
The event is marked by more than two billion people on Earth, in China as well as diaspora across the world with plenty of food, celebratory parades and of course, present offerings.
When is Chinese New Year?
In 2023, the auspicious date falls on Sunday, January 22 and will continue for just over a fortnight. It’s also known as chunjie, or the Spring Festival, heralding the beginning of a new season (a relief for anyone who’s just about had their fill of winter).
London is on track to celebrate the event with a huge parade running from Charing Cross down to Trafalgar Square and plenty of partying in Chinatown.
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What animal is it this Lunar New Year?
The Chinese calendar is marked by various animals on a 60 year rotation. This year it’s the turn of the water rabbit, the fourth creature in the Chinese zodiac and thought to be the luckiest of the lot.
What gifts to give for Chinese New Year?
Traditional gifts usually take the form of cash tucked inside a lucky red envelope or two mandarin oranges offered with both hands, major brands and luxury retailers have created limited edition products to mark the occasion.
We’ve created an edit of the best present ideas to give this Lunar New Year.
Ready to fall down the rabbit hole? Hop to it
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Swarovski Asian Symbols Rabbit Ornament
Swarovski
Add to your recipient’s decorations with Swarovski’s beautiful rabbit figurine, designed to celebrate the incoming lunar new year. The critter glimmers in the light thanks to 388 facets of clear, pink, black, and golden crystal and sits perched on a lucky gold-coloured coin. The piece is finished with bright red tassels, a shade considered lucky in Chinese culture
Buy now £65, Swarovski
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Liberty Year of the Rabbit Square Velvet Cushion
Liberty
Bring the Year of the Rabbit home with a brand new soft furnishing in honour of the occasion. Liberty’s square cushion is filled with 100 per cent duck feather and covered in sumptuous velvet and patterned with leaping rabbits, illustrating the joy and vitality to be expected in the coming year. The bright red design features a floral print on the reverse and is finished with dark red tassels on each corner.
Buy now £175, Liberty
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Hennessy X.O Chinese New Year 2023 Limited Edition
Hennessy
The iconic cognac brand is marking the incoming zodiac year with a very special collector’s edition of its X.O expression – its recipe has stayed the same since 1870. The stunning yellow and red bottle comes housed in an illustrated gift box, making it an ideal gift.
Buy now £193, Clos19
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Vivienne Westwood Jewellery Rabbit gold-tone brass pendant necklace
Vivienne Westwood Jewellery
When in doubt, jewellery is always a failsafe gifting option. Best known for its iconic orb design, Vivienne Westwood is pairing its signature motif with a white enamel and gold-tone brass rabbit pendant in honour of Chinese New Year.
Buy now £120, Selfridges
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Whittard Chinese New Year Lucky Lychee Caddy
Whittard
Tea, and tea ceremonies, are a big part of Chinese culture.Tea expert Whittard has designed a brand new tea tin in honour of the Year of the Rabbit. It’s packed with fruity lychee-flavoured loose leaf black tea and will make up to 50 cups, keeping you well refreshed into the New Year.
Buy now £18, Whittard
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Victorinox Huntsman Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition 2023
Victorinox
With a history that stretches back 125 years, a Swiss Army Knife is the perfect useful gift for all. Victorinox’s Huntsman Year Of series sees this year’s limited edition finished with a rabbit-inspired design. With only 6000 available, it’s a very special present for anyone born in this Zodiac cycle.
Buy now £100, Victorinox
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Liberty Rabbit Charm Coin Purse
Liberty
While money is a traditional gift for Chinese New Year, coins and notes are often tucked into auspicious red envelopes. Start a new tradition this year by filling this rabbit-shaped purse with a few coins instead. The sweet design is perfect for the young – and the young at heart – with a fluffy white pom pom tail adding to its charm. It comes with a golden dog clip to allow you to attach it securely to your bag.
Buy now £125, Liberty
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Montblanc The Legend of Zodiac Rabbit leather notebook
Montblanc
New year is a fresh start, the blank page of a fresh notebook. Keep your goals in order with Montblanc’s handsome 21cm x 15cm notebook bound in red grained leather with a gold rabbit-themed illustration.
Buy now £70, Selfridges
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Jellycat Bashful Bunny small soft toy
Jellycat
If you’ve got a small person to buy a gift for, we can’t think of a better present than Jellycat’s super soft Bashful Bunny plush toy. The sweet creature is covered in incredibly soft polyester, making it a comforting toy for newborns and toddlers alike.
Buy now £16, Selfridges
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Loveness Lee Chinese Zodiac Jewellery – Rabbit
Loveness Lee
Commemorate the importance of Chinese New Year with a special trinket from Chinese jeweller Loveness Lee. The brand’s collection of zodiac pendants are inspired by ancient calligraphy and fashioned from an 18ct gold plate wrapped around recycled silver. One to delight jewellery magpies.
Buy now £158, Loveness Lee
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Gucci wool polo shirt
Gucci
Revered Italian fashion house Gucci has released its tribute to the new year by transforming its famous interlocking G logo into a cartoon-like bunny. The collection spans mens, womens and accessories such as watches, but we think this wool polo shirt offers the most in terms of cost-per-wear.
Buy now £890, Gucci
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Chantecaille Year Of The Rabbit Bio Lifting Serum+ 50ml
Chantecaille
Beauty obsessives will hop with joy at Chantecaille’s limited edition rendering of its anti-ageing Bio Lifting Serum+. It’s ready for Chinese New Year gifting in a bright red bottle featuring the animal du jour on the tube. Inside, the formula is packed with powerful botanicals and peptides to smooth fine lines, moisturise, lift, firm and protect against blue light pollution from screens.
Buy now £324, Harvey Nichols
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Paul Smith Rabbit cotton-blend socks
Paul Smith
For the smart man about town, nod to the new year with Paul Smith’s patterned socks. This set of two features a subtle rabbit print ready to add character to everything from an office suit to jeans and a jumper at the weekend.
Buy now £40, Harvey Nichols
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Fortnum’s The Lunar New Year Hamper
F&M
Six gourmet treats expertly packed inside a medium-sized honey-hued wicker basket – who else but Fortnum & Mason? The luxury grocer is ringing in the year of the rabbit with a basket filled 0 per cent ABV Sparkling Tea, a caddy of celebration tea, chocolates, and a limited edition selection of biscuits covered in festive rabbit-themed packaging, which you can also buy separately for £25.95. A gift that’ll be received with open arms.
Buy now £160, F&M
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Johnnie Walker Limited Edition Year of the Rabbit Blue Label
Johnnie Walker
As one of the fastest growing whisky audiences in the world, more and more Chinese drinkers are discovering the pleasures of Scotch. Johnnie Walker has been marking the Lunar New Year for a few years now with an illustrated version of its Blue Label. For the Year of the Rabbit, new talent Angel Chen has been recruited to take care of the artwork.
Buy now £210, The Whisky Exchange
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