What To Wear for Lunar New Year?

At M for Mandarin, we love mixing language with culture. Lunar New Year (春节 Chūnjié) isn’t just about dumplings and red envelopes. It’s also about starting fresh, looking festive, and inviting good luck. So what do people actually wear?

Let’s break it down.

1. Red Is the Lucky Color

红色 hóngsè = red

Red is the most popular color during Lunar New Year because it symbolizes:

• Good luck 好运 hǎo yùn

• Happiness 快乐 kuài lè

• Prosperity 好运气 hǎo yùn qì / 发财 fā cái

Traditionally, red is believed to scare away bad luck and evil spirits, which is why you’ll see it everywhere during the New Year season, in decorations, envelopes, and yes, clothes.

People might wear:

• A red sweater, dress, or top

• Red accessories such as a scarf, bag, hair clip, or shoes

• Sometimes even red underwear (very common for “extra luck” )

You don’t have to wear all red, but having some red in your outfit is very common.

Useful Mandarin:

• 穿红色 chuān hóngsè - to wear red

• 今天我穿红色。Jīntiān wǒ chuān hóngsè. Today I’m wearing red.

2. New Clothes and a Fresh Start

新衣服 xīn yīfu - new clothes

There’s a long tradition of wearing new clothes for Lunar New Year. It represents:

• A new beginning

• Leaving old bad luck behind

• Starting the year clean and fresh

These clothes don’t have to be traditional. Most people today just wear:

• A new outfit

• Something nice, clean, and festive

• Often in red, gold, or bright colors

Think: “New year, new me”, but make it Chinese New Year style.

3. Traditional Outfits Optional but Festive

Some people choose traditional-style clothing, especially for:

• Family gatherings

• Temple visits

• Photos

• Special New Year events

Some popular choices are:

• 旗袍 qípáo (cheongsam) — a fitted dress, often red with gold patterns

• 唐装 tángzhuāng — a traditional-style jacket or top, often worn by men

• Kids often wear cute festive sets with embroidered animals or lucky symbols

Wearing traditional clothes is not required. Many people wear modern clothes — the key is just to look festive and fresh.

4. Lucky Colors Besides Red

Red is the star, but you’ll also see:

• Gold or Yellow — symbol of wealth and prosperity

• Bright colors — like pink, orange, or colorful patterns. These are popular because they create a happy, lively, festive feeling, especially in modern celebrations, and they are often paired with some red for extra luck.

Most people don’t overthink it. They wear modern, comfortable clothes, something new or nice, and usually add a bit of red or a bright color somewhere.

So the real rule is simple. Look clean, look happy, and add a little luck! 春节快乐！