In my mind’s eye, the start of Lunar New Year is a kaleidoscope of vibrant chaos — from bustling flower markets taking over the city squares to the rhythmic snap of firecrackers, and a sea of red so saturated you can’t help but feel lucky to be there. It’s one of Asia’s biggest holidays — one of the few times these bustling cities come to a halt, and the collective focus shifts entirely to the ritual of returning home to celebrate.
While I didn’t grow up celebrating Lunar New Year in China, I’ve been able to go back a handful of times to immerse myself in the festivities — and one thing is for certain: celebrating (and decorating for) Lunar New Year as an expat, outside China, is inevitably different. Without the city-wide immersion, the responsibility to create that familiar festive spirit falls entirely within your own four walls. And it can be hard to know where to start when decorating for Lunar New Year.
