While Nigerians and other countries have celebrated the new year 2025, our foreign friends, customers and family will be celebrating the Chinese new year which is commencing on January 29, 2025.
The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. It is a holiday that marks the start of spring and the lunar calendar. It is a beautiful time for family gatherings, celebrations, giving and exchanging of gifts. The New Year celebration is focused on removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good. It is a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for good harvest.
The Chinese New Year Festival is the most solemn festival of the year for every Chinese and has been celebrated in China for thousands of years, with various forms of activities among the diverse regions of China. Today it is celebrated also by Chinese communities outside the country. Lion dance, dragon dance, temple fairs, flower market shopping and so on are just a few of these rich and colourful activities that occur during the festival.
In the build up to the new year, people will clean their houses to get rid of dirt and other unwanted items. They will redecorate them with red couplets, lanterns, new flowerpots and furniture, and will shop for foodstuffs for banquet events.
The New Year is an important family reunion occasion, so those who are living or working far away would return home prior to the holiday. In China this is known as Chun Yun (春运 Moving in the Spring): millions of people travel on the country’s vast public transport systems or via private transport means, coming home to be with their loved ones.
WHAT THE CHINESE NEW YEAR REPRESENTS AND HOW IT IS CELEBRATED
In northern China, it is common to say “Xinnian Kuaile” (Happy New Year in Mandarin) when greeting someone. But in Guangdong and Hong Kong, the Cantonese version of the greeting is “Gong Hey Fat Choi” (wishing you a prosperous year).
The Chinese New Year represents the following:
- New beginnings: Chinese New Year symbolizes the end of winter and the start of spring, and the desire for a new life.
- Prosperity: The Chinese New Year festival is meant to bring good fortune and prosperity in the new year.
- Family: It is always a time for family reunions, gatherings and sharing symbolic dishes.
- Lunar calendar:It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar, which is based on the cycle of the moon.
How is it celebrated?
- Cleaning: People clean their homes to get rid of dirt and bad luck.
- Decorating: People decorate their homes with red lanterns, couplets, and new furniture.
- Giving gifts: People give money in red envelopes, known as hóngbāo, as gifts.
- Lion and dragon dances: People perform lion and dragon dances.
- Temple fairs: People visit temples and attend temple fairs.
- Flower market shopping: People shop for flowers and other decorations.
- Reunion dinner: Families gather for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve.
One of the best ways to celebrate the new year is to drink with friends and families. Let’s put you through some drinks to celebrate Chinese new year in Nigeria and also where you can get the drinks from:
Macallan A Night on Earth : A Night on earth is the Macallan festive whisky series that connects the seasonal joy of coming together, celebrating and well wishes. It is perfect as a gift as it comes in a festive box that was made in collaboration with artist Nini Sum. Her renowned artwork weaves a captivating visual narrative, vividly illustrating the journey of coming home for the New Year.
Each release reflects on a different destination, exploring its local and family traditions, capturing the universal joy of celebrating a special occasion with loved ones. It has an ABV of 43% and tasting notes of vanilla, baked apple, plum, almond, shortbread, marshmallow, dried oranges, fig, and cinnamon. It has a medium finish with butterscotch and freshly baked biscuits.
Macallan 12 years Sherry Oak : The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old is a part of the Sherry Oak Collection which features a series of single malt whiskies matured in exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks for its richness and complexity. A matured character, the 12 Years Old delivers rich wood spice and dried fruits and a natural rich gold colour. The Macallan 12 years sherry oak has an ABV of 40%.
The Macallan 18 years Sherry Oak: The Macallan 18 years sherry oak is matured in Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain, the rich, fruity and full bodied ‘new make’ spirit is transformed into an iconic single malt. Once filled, the maturing spirit remains undisturbed in the same casks for 18 years and is brought together in this rich and complex single malt characterized by mature oak, ginger and raisin flavors. It also has an ABV of 43%
The Macallan Classic Cut : The classic cut is also a series of annual expressions that celebrate The Macallan’s ongoing commitment to seek out the extraordinary and in doing so create whiskies of unique character. It is a whisky perfect for celebratory moments such as the Chinese New Year festival. With an ABV of 50.3%, it has notes of elegant fragrance of pears and elderflower with light almond notes and rich vanilla pod.
La Fiole du Pape: Chateauneuf Du Pape is a French wine known for its grenache-based red blends. A masterful blend of multiple vintages of the best cuvées, aged according to the traditions and know-how of our esteemed Maison. La Fiole du Pape is the best-selling Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the world. Its signature twisted bottle represents the gnarled and twisted vines typical of the region due to their struggle to grow against the Mistral wind. Primarily grenache and syrah, this full-bodied wine has aromas and flavours of fresh red berries, cherry and oak spice. It has an ABV of 14%.
So the options above are great if you are looking for drinks to celebrate Chinese new year in Nigeria. You can always get these drinks at Barrels.ng which is located at 1a, Isaac John street, Ikeja GRA or you can reach us on 09168337434. Happy Chinese New Year to our friends and customers.