Chinese New Year preparation checklist 2027: essential steps to celebrate in Asia

Chinese New Year 2027, marking the start of the Year of the Wood Rabbit according to the lunisolar calendar, will be celebrated on January 29. Known as the Spring Festival in China and other parts of Asia, this is the most important time of the year for family reunions, honoring traditions, and preparing homes to welcome good luck. To ensure nothing is overlooked, this Chinese New Year preparation checklist 2027 covers all key aspects: from deep cleaning to traditional dishes, gifts, and travel arrangements. Use this list in Foco to organize every step and enjoy the celebrations stress-free.

In Asia, preparations begin weeks in advance, with tight deadlines for buying fresh ingredients, booking train or flight tickets (especially during Chunyun in China, when millions travel), and decorating homes with prosperity symbols. This checklist reflects local customs, such as choosing red colors, purchasing red envelopes (hongbao), or preparing region-specific dishes. If you live in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, some steps may vary slightly, but the essence remains the same.

How to use this checklist in Foco

Create a work in Foco called 'Chinese New Year' and assign a distinctive color, like red. Import this list and adjust the due dates based on your timeline—for example, schedule deep cleaning for early January and grocery shopping for the week before. Use the Kanban view to group tasks by category (cleaning, decorations, gifts) or the Calendar view to see everything on a timeline. If you’re traveling, set reminders to renew passports or buy tickets in advance. With voice capture, you can dictate ideas on the go, like recipes or directions to specialty stores.

• Deep clean the house (sweep, mop, clean windows and furniture) to remove bad luck from the previous year
• Discard or donate broken or unused items (symbolizes letting go of negativity)
• Buy red decorations: lanterns, calligraphy with lucky characters (fu, chun), and paper-cut designs (jianzhi)
• Place pairs of fu (fortune) characters on doors, one right-side up and one upside down (wordplay for 'fortune arrives')
• Purchase red envelopes (hongbao) to gift money to children and unmarried family members
• Prepare a list of traditional gifts: fruits (mandarins, pomelos), sweets (glutinous rice cakes, niangao), or high-quality tea
• Book train, flight, or bus tickets at least 3 weeks in advance (peak Chunyun travel season in China)
• Check passport and visa validity if traveling abroad for the celebrations
• Buy ingredients for traditional dishes: fish (for abundance), jiaozi (dumplings for prosperity), tangyuan (rice balls for family unity)
• Plan the New Year’s Eve dinner (reunion dinner) menu with at least 8 dishes (lucky number)
• Buy new clothes, preferably in red or gold tones, to wear for the New Year
• Cut hair and nails before the first day of the year (avoid cutting them during celebrations to prevent 'cutting' good luck)
• Pay off debts and avoid lending money during the festivities (to avoid 'losing' prosperity)
• Clean and decorate the ancestral altar with fruits, flowers, and candles to honor ancestors
• Prepare red envelopes with money for hongbao (even amounts, avoid the number 4)
• Plan family visits: confirm schedules and bring gifts for hosts
• Buy firecrackers or fireworks (if allowed in your area) to scare away evil spirits
• Check the horoscope for the Year of the Wood Rabbit to adjust plans accordingly
• Prepare a red envelope with money to place under children’s pillows on New Year’s Eve