Chinese New Year preparation checklist 2027: full guide for Year of the Horse

Chinese New Year 2027 (Year of the Horse) begins on 29 January, marking the start of one of Asia’s most important celebrations. This Chinese New Year preparation checklist 2027 will help you organise every detail: from deep cleaning your home to shopping for decorations, preparing traditional dishes, and planning family gatherings. Use this list in Foco to manage all tasks in one place, assign responsibilities, and ensure nothing is overlooked.

In Foco, create a workspace called 'Chinese New Year' and assign each task with start and due dates to spread the work across the weeks leading up to the holiday. Use the Kanban view to group tasks by category (cleaning, shopping, decorations, food) or the Calendar view to track deadlines. If you’re working with family or friends, invite them to the workspace and assign specific tasks, such as buying ingredients or decorating the entrance.

Key customs and deadlines for 2027

Chinese New Year is celebrated over 15 days, but preparations begin weeks in advance. In 2027, New Year’s Eve falls on 28 January, so home cleaning should be completed before then (sweeping is avoided during the first days of the year to prevent 'sweeping away good luck'). Shopping for decorations and food intensifies in the days leading up to the holiday, especially as markets and shops close during the festivities. Family gatherings typically include a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve and visits to relatives during the first few days of the year.

• Buy a new broom and cleaning supplies (avoid using old ones after Chinese New Year)
• Deep clean every room, including windows, furniture, and corners (symbolises removing bad luck)
• Wash curtains, rugs, and bedding to refresh the home
• Discard broken or unused items (represents letting go of the past)
• Purchase red decorations: lanterns, calligraphy with lucky characters (福, 春), and red envelopes (红包)
• Place lucky plants like kumquat or narcissus (symbols of prosperity)
• Decorate doors and windows with red paper cuttings (窗花) and couplets (春联)
• Buy ingredients for traditional dishes: fish (for abundance), dumplings (jiaozi), niangao (rice cake), and fruits like mandarins and pomelos
• Prepare new clothes, preferably in red or gold (colours of good fortune)
• Buy gifts for family: tea, fruits, sweets, or red envelopes with money (even amounts, avoid the number 4)
• Plan the New Year’s Eve dinner menu and assign dishes to family members
• Confirm attendance for the reunion dinner and subsequent visits
• Clean and decorate the family altar (if applicable) with offerings like fruit, incense, and candles
• Prepare red envelopes with money for children and unmarried relatives (amounts like 8, 88, or 168 for luck)
• Check public transport schedules or book taxis for travel during the holidays (many services reduce hours)
• Buy fireworks or firecrackers (if permitted in your area) to ward off evil spirits
• Check and top up transport cards or payment apps (WeChat Pay, Alipay) for market purchases
• Prepare an emergency kit with basic medicines, as many pharmacies close during the festivities