Text apper in image: Prosperity and Spring.
Cover Red and gold are all the hallmarks of an auspicious Chinese New Year table

Attract prosperity, good fortune, and happiness for the Year of the Dragon by adding these items to your table

The reunion dinner is central to Chinese New Year celebrations, and apart from being a special night for the family to share a meal, every dish on the table is symbolic of a wish or hope for the coming year.

For instance, fish is a must as the Chinese word for prosperity, yu, also means fish, and a dish of black moss or fatt choy ushers in wealth. A chicken symbolises joy and is served whole to represent the family’s completeness.

While these dishes represent the family’s wishes for the coming year, adding decorative items to the mix will not just beautify the table; if chosen well, they may increase your luck. Here are seven essentials.

Read more: The best watches celebrating the Year of the Dragon

1. Chrysanthemums

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Autumn red-brown background: red chrysanthemums on wooden background.
Above Red chrysanthemums

The lovely chrysanthemum is the top flower to attract health and wealth during the Chinese New Year. Typically bought in golden yellow, they are equally beautiful in red, and there’s never enough red, especially during this time of the year.

Add these as a large dramatic centrepiece of your table, or make smaller posies dotted throughout the table.

2. Paper cuttings

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Suitable for Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Tanabata Festival, Winter Solstice, New Year's Eve dinner, Chinese traditional culture, Chinese food culture, quaint, festive atmosphere, family reunion, auspicious, folklore, ethnic characteristics, affection, good wishes, print advertising
Above Carp paper cuttings are suitable for Chinese New Year

A time-honoured tradition dating back to the second century CE, this Chinese folk art is especially popular during Chinese New Year, which sees designs depicting wishes for wealth, health and longevity conveyed through paper cuttings.

Typically realised on a piece of red paper and then pasted on doors or windows, add this intricate craft to your table with 3D types out of more robust card stock. Consider images of auspicious plants or animals like the carp, which invite good fortune to your household.

3. Red table setting

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Black chopsticks on red bamboo mat. Asian style table place setting with chinese new years lucky charm
Above Black chopsticks on red bamboo mat

There can never be enough red during Chinese New Year as red is the colour of luck, relates to fire and energy, and symbolises vitality, celebration and prosperity. 

A red tablecloth would please the most traditional in the family, but you can still infuse that bright colour with the use of red placemats and a table runner. Whether in festive brocade or minimalist bamboo, finish with decorated chopsticks and your best porcelain bowls and serveware.

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4. Dragon flatware

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Christofle Mood Asia flatware set for Lunar New Year
Above The Mood Asia flatware set by Christofle, perfect for the Lunar New Year with a casing reminiscent of the legendary dragon egg

The coming lunar cycle will usher in the Year of the Dragon or, more specifically, the Wood Dragon. A symbol of power and authority in Chinese culture, the coming year is predicted to be a year of prosperity, growth and renewal.

Kit out your table appropriately with representations of the dragon. Whether it’s mini ceramic figurines, a pair of dragons as a centrepiece, dragon-shaped chopstick rests, or a subtler design inspired by mythical dragon eggs, multiply your luck and your table’s appeal with these decorative accents.

5. Gold ingots

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Suitable for Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Tanabata Festival, Winter Solstice, New Year's Eve dinner, Chinese traditional culture, Chinese food culture, quaint, festive atmosphere, family reunion, auspicious, folklore, ethnic characteristics, affection, good wishes, print advertising
Above Gold ingots are symbols of prosperity

Ingots or yuan bao are small metal ingots used in ancient China as money. Today, these boat-shaped objects are bountiful during Chinese New Year as they have become symbols of prosperity, income and wealth, frequently seen in design or decoration on items connected with Chinese New Year. 

For the dinner table, strategically placing ingots amongst the dishes will add to the festive spirit. While plastic ingots are ubiquitous, consider folding them from gold paper like origami for a hand-crafted touch.

6. Lucky knots

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Tangyuan, to celebrate Chinese traditional lantern festival
Above Tangyuan, to celebrate the traditional lantern festival, next to a lucky knot decorative piece

Chinese knotting, also known as zhongguo jie, is a decorative handicraft that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song dynasty. The mystic knot, with its seemingly endless and repetitive pattern, is one of the eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. Like Bagua mirrors, knots are supposed to ward off evil spirits and, therefore, are a symbol of longevity and eternity. They also act as good luck charms and accompany gifts during Chinese New Year celebrations.

Multiply your table-setting luck with knots fastened around the stem of pedestal plates or tied around napkins. Best in red, colours like gold are also auspicious, although emerald green is said to be an auspicious colour for the Year of the Wood Dragon.

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7. Mandarin oranges

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Flat lay Chinese new year food and drink still life. Texts appear in image: Prosperity & Spring.
Above Mandarin oranges are a lovely and lucky addition to the table

No Chinese New Year is complete without mandarin oranges because the Chinese word for mandarin, kam, sounds similar to gold. As such, having mandarin oranges around the home or exchanging them is said to bring riches into your life.

Add riches to the table by piling a beautiful bowl or tray with mandarin oranges. More than just adding vibrant colour to the setting, they’re refreshingly perfect for tucking into after a heavy meal.

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