Based on the Chinese Zodiac and calendar, January 29 marks the start of the Lunar New Year. For 2025, the "Year of the Snake" symbolizes a time for renewal, wisdom, mystery, and transformation.
Also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, many families celebrate it as a two-week event that coincides with the Lantern Festival on February 12.
Instead of material goods, gifting revolves around the giving of money-filled red envelopes, often from adults to children, which signify the bestowing of good fortune. (As a child, my siblings and I looked forward to this tradition, spending the money on video games and toys.) Otherwise, gifting tends to revolve around small, meaningful, and symbolic items, such as fruit (oranges, in particular), and candy.
In addition to the Chinese, the Lunar New Year is also celebrated by Koreans (Seollal), Vietnamese (Tet), Tibetans (Losar), Mongolians (Tsagaan Sar), and others. Although there may be cultural differences, they all share that anybody can enjoy.
Anyone can celebrate with this list of fun gifts to mark the event all year until the "Year of the Horse" arrives in 2026.
A box of sweet oranges makes a simple yet best gift
Harry and David
Harry & David Triple Treat Deluxe Fruit
Oranges are considered symbols of good luck and are often given as gifts during Lunar New Year. Tangerines, mandarins, apples, pears, and most other fruits also make great gifts.
A Lego Lunar New Year set you can display all year
Lego
Lego Trotting Lantern
Modeled after a lantern you may see during Chinese New Year, this set is a fun way to learn about the cultural aspects of the event. The lantern opens up to reveal a scene of a family of five Lego Minifigures — including one with a snake costume — in celebration. Look closely, and you'll see small details that Lego fans will appreciate.
Satisfy their sweet tooth
Sugarfina
Sugarfina Year of the Snake Zodiac Candy Tasting Collection
You'll often see trays of candy set out during Chinese New Year celebrations. It's a hit with kids, naturally. This collection of sugar candy celebrates the "Year of the Snake" and the entire Chinese Zodiac.
Eat noodles to live a long life
MiLa
Whee! Noodles
MiLa Dan Dan Noodle
Noodles are often served during the Lunar New Year as they represent longevity. The Chinese dish is called just that, Longevity Noodles, and is often made with egg noodles. Try a Japanese version: Use buckwheat noodles in a soup called Toshikoshi Soba or New Year's Eve Soba. For a kick, MiLa offers its version of spicy Dan Dan noodles.And for those who eat plant-based, check out these options from Immi.
Make some noise to ward off the bad
Marshall
Marshall Emberton III Lunar New Year Edition 2025
It is said that creating noise during the Lunar New Year will keep away evil spirits in order to bring in luck and prosperity. A way to do that is with Marshall's first-ever Lunar New Year version of its Emberton III Bluetooth speaker, but it's preferable to play some music everyone can enjoy.
Voluminous and healthy hair for the new year
Sephora
Oribe Lunar New Year Magnificent Volume Hair Collection
Oribe makes one of our top picks for best shampoos for hair growth. This Lunar New Year set includes Magnificent Volume shampoo and conditioner and the Maximista Thickening Spray, designed for use on various hair types.
Brew tea for family and guests
Upton Tea Imports
Upton Tea Imports Lunar Blossom Tea Pet and Tea Set
Drinking tea is a revered tradition in Asia. For the Lunar New Year, this set from Upton includes Black Mu Dan tea leaves that were specially chosen for the "Year of the Snake" and a ceramic "pet" for pouring tea over it, which is said to bring good luck.
A cozy sweater with a whimsical Lunar New Year graphic
Aritzia
Aritzia Lunar New Year Perfect Hoodie
Aritzia partnered with illustrator Jessie Wong on a special collection of Lunar New Year pieces inspired by Wong's roots and family traditions. You'll find sweaters, sweatpants, and socks with fun illustrations that depict aspects of New Year celebrations.
Load up on dumplings for prosperity
Fly by Jing
Fly By Jing Year of the Snake Chili Crisp Set
If the "Year of the Snake" is about transformation, then 2025 is the time to liven up your taste buds with this set of four different varieties of Fly By Jing's chili crisps. Use them on top of dumplings, which symbolize prosperity and wealth because they are shaped like ingots, an ancient form of currency.
A limited Lunar New Year edition of premium Cognac
ReserveBar/Martell
Hennessy X.O 2025 Lunar New Year Cognac Gift Box
Martell Cordon Bleu Lunar New Year Limited Edition Cognac
Alcohol is symbolic in that it represents good health and longevity. Although not Asian in origin, Cognac is popular during banquets and other celebrations. Hennessy's special edition was created by Chinese fashion designer Shuting Qiu, while Martell tapped artist Wu Jian'an for its box design. If you can't score either, the regular stuff should suffice.
Transform your nails with salon-like gel polish and Lunar New Year-inspired stickers
Le Mini Macaron
Snake Goddess Bundle
Snake Goddess and Cherry Red Mini Kit Bundle
Channeling its cofounder's Taiwanese-American heritage, Le Mini Macaron introduced the Snake Goddess Bundle in celebration of the Lunar New Year, which includes three nail gel polishes in red (the lucky color), black (to symbolize the snake's mystery), and complementary beige. The kit includes fun Lunar New Year-themed stickers, and it can also be purchased with the Cherry Red Gel Manicure Kit, which comes with an LED lamp for curing and setting the gel.
Lunar New Year for chocolate lovers
See's Candies
See's Candies Lunar New Year Assorted Chocolates
Valerie Confections Lunar New Year Assortment
Chocolates and cookies are often given during the Lunar New Year, and there are plenty to choose from. See's Candies offers its popular assortment of chocolates in a special theme package. Los Angeles-based and AAPI-owned Valerie Confections has a package of "Good Luck" truffles made with bittersweet chocolate ganache.
Lunar New Year-inspired eyewear
Zenni
Zenni Golden Horizon Frames
Zenni has a series of eyewear to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and select frames have a snake motif to mark this year's Zodiac animal. If you don't wear prescription glasses, Zenni lets you turn any of their frames into sunglasses. Check out Zenni's entire lineup of Lunar New Year frames. All purchases from the collection will receive a limited edition gift set that includes a snake-themed hard case, cleaning cloth, and carrying bag.
Add a lucky plant to your home
Rooted
Rooted Money Plant
Even if you aren't planning a celebration, you can still partake in some low-key traditions, like growing a Chinese money plant, also known as pilea peperomioides.
A collection of cookbooks for making an authentic family meal
Amazon
"Every Grain of Rice" by Fuchsia Dunlop
"Vietnamese Food Any Day" by Andrea Nguyen
"Korean Home Cooking" by Sohui Kim
Asian families celebrating the Lunar New Year will cook big meals at home. Make a few authentic dishes using recipes from one of these terrific books on Asian cookery.