Did you know that we are now celebrating another New Year?

Different from the Western New Year, which always falls on the last day of December, the Chinese New Year does not follow the solar calendar, but the lunar calendar. Not surprisingly, it is also called the Lunar New Year, and its arrival - falling this year on 29 January 2025 - brings with it an ever-changing zodiac sign among the twelve present in the Chinese horoscope. Chinese New Year is also extraordinarily heartfelt within families: people reunite with loved ones, gather around the table enjoying good traditional food (where every dish has an auspicious meaning, of course) and exchange gifts. There is also the traditional hongbao 紅包, small red rectangular envelopes that are given to the youngest members of the family with a little money inside.

Transformation, wisdom and even a touch of mystery. In Chinese tradition, those of the Serpent zodiac sign certainly enjoy the qualities of what is considered to be a creature as wild as it is fascinating. He is characterised by refined passions, a graceful and elegant soul, diplomatic skills, and skilful oratory. It also seems that those of the Serpent zodiac sign also particularly like books, music, clothes, frivolities with a je ne sais quoi of sophistication: perfect gift ideas to keep in mind when shopping.

Inevitable during Chinese New Year celebrations is red, the colour of prosperity and good luck. It is no coincidence, after all, that even brides in China get married wearing a dress in this rich and vibrant colour. During the CNY celebrations, the colour red characterises not only the hongbao 紅包 but also the decorations used inside and outside the home, as well as the looks of those about to celebrate it: is there anything more beautiful than a qipao 旗袍, the traditional Chinese women's dress, in red?

In the fashion capsules designed by luxury brands specifically for CNY, there is no shortage of gift ideas. Clothes, accessories, small leather goods, jewellery. Each product hides the charm of exclusivity given, above all, by the presence of an unmistakable detail such as the animal protagonist of the Chinese zodiac. Beware, however, of gifts that are not looked on favourably because of superstition. Better indeed to avoid giving shoes and wristwatches. The former imply going away, a distancing between giver and receiver: in essence, the breaking of a bond. And even giving a wristwatch - which in Chinese is called sòng zhōng 送钟 - is bad luck, as the sound is reminiscent of sòng zhōng 送终 meaning ‘attending a funeral’.

Heavily felt even in our Chinese destinations, Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Bicester Village Suzhou, The Bicester Collection's first village in China, and Bicester Village Shanghai. With more than 200 boutiques, Bicester Village Suzhou hosts installations and events throughout the year, and is the perfect place to enjoy a selection of authentic regional Chinese and European cuisine. Bicester Village Shanghai, which is adjacent to Disney's Shanghai Resort, on the other hand, offers its guests spectacular views that can be enjoyed while dining in one of the restaurants or bars along the Village's Croisette. With artistic influences of the 1920s from Milan, Vienna, New York and Paris, Shanghai Village evokes the glamour of the Jazz Age and is home to more than 200 boutiques. The perfect