Red and gold take centre stage
Festive accessories convey traditional colours and motifs to attract good luck, prosperity
The bold reds, shiny golds and striking symbols on banners, lanterns and linens used to mark Chinese New Year have profound cultural significance, reflecting wishes for the arrival of spring and hopes for a happy, safe and prosperous year.
Interestingly, several of the decorative elements used to celebrate the annual flipping of the lunar calendar are also trending in home decor, meaning you may already have on hand one or two accessories — gold candlesticks, perhaps, a rich red throw, or vase with an interesting graphic or floral pattern — that play on the themes.
Whether decorating for Chinese New Year is extensive, or it’s simply acknowledged with a few pieces, incorporating warm and cheerful colours, flickering lights and fragrant fruits will undoubtedly be welcome in any Canadian home during February’s dark days.
Before all the pretty things come out, preparation begins in many homes with a thorough cleaning. Conventional wisdom dictates that it be done just before the new year, as sweeping symbolizes getting rid of residual bad luck. Similarly, sweeping during the early days of the calendar should be avoided, lest any accumulated good fortune be inadvertently swept away.
Lanterns are a staple of Chinese New Year decor, and are symbolic of light chasing away dark and danger. Decorative paper lanterns are easily found at specialty stores such as Party City, where you’ll find red and yellow accordion-pleat lanterns with handles for hanging ($5 for two). A grouping, such as Ikea’s Parlband tea-light lanterns ($8 each), make a good-looking alternative that can be used throughout the year.
There will be lots of red, as it’s considered effective against malevolent forces that may try to enter the home. Party City will have a wide selection of red cardstock pieces printed with traditional wishes for luck, wisdom and prosperity, as well as a full complement of Chinese New Year-themed tableware in red and gold.
For a subtler gesture, there’s Ikea’s Marit placemats ($2.50 each), which would make a nice anchor for a Chi- nese New Year-themed meal, especially teamed with its gold Tillagd flatware ($60/20-piece set).
Silky green pendants embroidered with Chinese knots (six for $14.12 from Walmart) and larger red knots (four for $12, also from Walmart) are meant to be hung on doors and walls, but could also be handsome hung from branches that form part of a floral centrepiece.
Chinese New Year is also associated with certain fruits, including kumquats, pomelos, grapes and oranges. Nothing could be simpler than piling any of these into a bright red bowl or on a simple gold-coloured tray (about $18 for Ikea’s Glattis brass tray).
Animals — both real and mythical — are also part of the mix. Intricately drawn dragons — symbols of power, fertility and wisdom — will appear on banners. A jointed dragon made from cardstock starts at about $5 at Party City.
The Chinese calendar assigns an animal to represent each year. In 2018, it’s the dog, so canine motifs will be plentiful, including cards with dog symbols on strings that can be hung (six six-inch strings available for $4 at Party City.) A little off-track but also fun for dog lovers is a set of stemless glasses featuring dog portraits for about $46 from Pier 1.