Chinese New Year preparation checklist 2027: your ultimate guide

Chinese New Year 2027 (Spring Festival) begins on January 29, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Goat. This is Asia’s most important celebration, requiring weeks of preparation: deep cleaning, symbolic decorations, food shopping, and family traditions. Use this Chinese New Year preparation checklist 2027 to ensure nothing is overlooked and start the year with good fortune.

In countries like China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, families spend days cleaning their homes (to sweep away bad luck), decorating with red and gold motifs, and preparing dishes like nián gāo or jiǎozi. Shopping includes new clothes, red envelopes (hóngbāo), and ingredients for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Timing is crucial: cleaning must be completed by the 23rd day of the last lunar month (January 18, 2027), and decorations go up from the 24th (January 19).

How to use this checklist in Foco

Import this checklist into Foco to manage each step with reminders and key dates. Assign tasks to family members (e.g., "Buy red envelopes") and use the Kanban view to track progress. With voice capture, dictate reminders like "Buy fish for New Year’s Eve dinner, urgent, due January 28," and Foco will create the task automatically. If you have a Plus plan, sync your calendar to see events like temple visits or family gatherings alongside your tasks.

• Buy cleaning supplies (new broom, rags, detergent) before January 15
• Deep clean the house: sweep, mop, wash curtains and windows (finish by January 18)
• Discard broken or old items (symbolizes letting go of negativity)
• Buy red and gold decorations: lanterns, fú (福) calligraphy, chuānghuā paper cuttings
• Hang lanterns on doors and windows (from January 19 onward)
• Paste fú calligraphy upside down (to attract good luck) and paper cuttings on windows
• Buy new clothes (preferably red or gold) for the whole family
• Prepare red envelopes hóngbāo (buy or make) and new money in small bills
• Shop for New Year’s Eve dinner ingredients: fish (abundance), jiǎozi (wealth), nián gāo (prosperity)
• Buy lucky fruits: mandarins, pomelos, and apples (avoid pears)
• Prepare ingredients for traditional dishes (e.g., jiǎozi filling, nián gāo sauce)
• Cook and freeze dishes in advance (e.g., jiǎozi, tāngyuán)
• Clean and decorate the ancestral altar with fruits, candles, and incense
• Buy firecrackers and fireworks (check local regulations)
• Plan the New Year’s Eve dinner menu (include 8–10 dishes, a lucky number)
• Invite family and confirm attendance for the dinner
• Prepare gifts for visitors (mandarins, sweets, or red envelopes)
• Check public transport schedules or book a taxi to avoid crowds
• Wash and iron clothes for the first days of the year (avoid washing on Day 1)
• Pay off debts and resolve conflicts before the New Year (to start fresh)