Earlier this week, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas unveiled its Year of the Rabbit installation, which will be on display through March 4. A variety of vignettes—created by designer Ed Libby in collaboration with Bellagio’s horticulture team—honor the black water rabbit. On the West Bed is a 32-foot-tall medallion that utilizes red and gold-colored metallic and floral materials. Cherry blossoms from the ancient Eastern metalwork technique of cloisonné hang above a pair of fu dogs; and there are also twin bonsai trees, along with flowing water signifying the showering of riches while paying homage to the rabbit’s wisdom and connection to Earth.Photo: Courtesy of Bellagio
An estimated two billion people around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, which, in many Asian cultures, is meant as a time to welcome a new year through family reunions and colorful celebrations. So it’s no surprise that it’s a popular occasion for creative, over-the-top events, with fun details tying into themes of peace and prosperity. Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals—this year, it’s the rabbit—adding another fun layer to celebrations. In 2023, Lunar New Year kicks off on Jan. 22.
We caught up with Amanda Ma, the Taiwanese-American founder and CEO of Innovate Marketing Group in Pasadena, Calif., to chat about all things Lunar New Year—including advice for brands and corporate groups planning their own celebrations. Here are her tips...
What color schemes and decor items do you suggest leaning into for Lunar New Year celebrations?
We suggest using bright and warm colors like red, gold, pink, and orange-red, which are very popular and important colors as they symbolize good luck, prosperity, passion, and joy. For traditional decor, you can lighten up the event space with plum blossom flowers projected on the walls or event space, red rabbit-shaped lanterns as the centerpieces surrounded by gorgeous florals, florals with warm colors, gold Yuanbao, and large firecrackers. Or, giant stacked red cubes with customized brand logos visible on one side of each cube—other visible sides of the cubes can wish "good luck," "prosperity," or "happy Lunar New Year" in different languages.
For her own Lunar New Year events, Innovate Marketing Group’s Ma leans into bright and warm colors like red, gold, pink, and orange-red, which she notes symbolize good luck, prosperity, passion, and joy.Photo: Courtesy of Innovate Marketing Group
In the Year of the Rabbit, it's charming to incorporate some rabbit-shaped decor, themes, and activities. Floral decor and floral elements match well with this fluffy creature. An interactive activity to have at your event is to incorporate a small petting zone with actual rabbits, allowing guests to pet them to obtain good fortune. Or have several brand ambassadors hold one and walk around the event so guests can pet them.
In addition, you can use a clever and exciting way to give out blessings and greetings to your guests related to rabbits, like “Hopping into happiness” or “I wish you hop into the Year of Rabbit with fortune and luck.”
A fun fact about the Year of the Rabbit is the word rabbit in Chinese is “兔,” which is the same pronunciation as “to”—so you can give out your greetings by saying “Happy New Year 兔You” and “Good Luck 兔 You.” You can also incorporate these phrases on the signage of your event to add more fun to the whole experience!
What about food?
Eating all kinds of traditional food and snacks is a huge part of a Lunar New Year celebration, like dumplings, fish, oranges, spring rolls, shrimp, whole chicken, lion's head meatballs, and Lunar New Year desserts like Nian Gao (sweet rice cake), Jujube flower cakes, and almond cookies. The dumpling resembles ancient Chinese money—gold Yuanbao, an auspicious symbol of wealth. By eating fish, you wish you will always have a surplus and abundance every year. By eating the orange, you bring good fortune and luck.
If you want to prepare some welcome or celebration gifts for your event, we like these gift ideas for desserts: Sugarfina Luna New Year Bento Gift Set and Lady M My Melody Box. Candy and fruit are also two popular choices, like this Lunar New Year fruit box and gold coin chocolate. Other than sweets, if you want to prepare something elegant for your guests, you can present them with tea gifts like this Warming Joy tea gift box, as tea is always a major cultural element for Chinese people.
What's the biggest thing to avoid when planning a Lunar New Year celebration?
You should avoid some taboos when planning a Lunar New Year celebration to prevent bad luck or inauspicious meanings. First, avoid black or white colors for your decor, as they are commonly used for funerals. Secondly, avoid saying bad words or swear words during the Lunar New Year. When using numbers or giving out red envelopes to your guests or employees, avoid unlucky numbers like 4, or giving out an odd amount of money. Some of our clients will ask us to skip any table number with 4 in it: 4, 14, 40 , 41, etc.
Additionally, scissors, knives, or cutting things such as your hair are also forbidden during the new year so that you won't "cut" your wealth. In terms of food, don't serve your guests porridge or bitter gourd, as porridge brings poverty and bitter gourd as it is a bad omen predicting bitterness.
Any suggestions for brands and corporate groups that want to acknowledge Lunar New Year? How can they make it feel meaningful and authentic?
For the corporate groups, we suggest you provide some authentic Chinese food and desserts to your guests or employees, and put up various new year decorations in the event space and the office. Culturally, Lunar New Year is about the family reunion to celebrate and eat together. It is the best time for corporate groups to have employee bonding or recognition events that create a fun and celebratory environment.
A Lunar New Year celebration is very lively, with loud music and entertainment and a lot of food and snacks! Some popular entertainment options are lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, calligraphy, music, arts and craft demonstrations, drum performances, circus shows, and more. To add a surprise-and-delight element, you can pass out red pockets to your attendees with lucky messages; some of them can have money.
Bonus: Check out our podcast interview with Ma, where she shared more ways to create culturally sensitive events for Asian audiences.
Feeling inspired? Scroll down to see inside some recent Lunar New Year celebrations...
The brand is also hosting a series of curated events in San Francisco and New York, which will include a tasting experience that centers around the number eight, considered lucky within Asian culture. The gatherings will feature eight food and drink pairings. Tickets to the events are available for $88, with a portion of proceeds going to nonprofits The Center for Asian American Media and Welcome to Chinatown.
