What do I need to be aware of as a foreigner at a CNY 2026 home visit?

So, you’ve been invited to a local home for the Spring Festival for the first time. You are all excited and looking forward to partake in the biggest festivities in the world. Your first instinct might be to bring a nice bottle of wine or a bouquet of lilies, but wait! In the world of Chinese New Year, those lovely lilies are for funerals, and that wine might be overshadowed by a much more important currency: Mandarin Oranges.

Maybe you are beginning to feel a little nervous. What do you actually need to do or behave, how do you dress up, what do you need to bring or how can you participate to show that you have been to tens of Chinese homes for CNY and not stick out like a sore foreigner. In other words, how to fake it while not actually faking it. Make sense?

Being a guest during the Year of the Fire Horse is like being a character in a beautifully choreographed dance. There’s a rhythm to how you enter, what you wear, and even how you eat your snacks. I remember my first visit where I wore a sleek black shirt—I thought I looked great until the host’s grandmother spent the entire night looking at me like I was a bad omen. To save you from the "Grandma Stare," here is your 2026 survival guide for house visiting.

1. The "Oranges & Envelopes" Entrance

In 2026, you don’t just walk into a house; you arrive bearing gifts of gold (well, the fruit version).

• The Rule of Two: Always bring exactly two Mandarin oranges (桔 - jú). The word for mandarin sounds like "luck" (吉 - jí). Bringing them in a pair signifies that "good things come in pairs."

• The Hand-Off: Present the oranges with both hands to the head of the household. They will likely return two oranges to you when you leave—this is a mutual exchange of luck!

• Gift No-Nos: According to a 2026 guide by HSBC Expat, you should strictly avoid gifting clocks (which sound like "attending a funeral") or sharp objects like scissors (which symbolize cutting off a relationship).

2. Dress for Success (The Fire Horse Edition)

2026 is a "Fire" year, which means vibrant colors are the order of the day.

• Red is Mandatory: You don't have to dress overly formal. But strictly no bermudas or sandals. A red scarf or tie will do well. Red wards off the mythical beast Nian and invites energy.

• The "Mourning" Mistake: Avoid wearing all-black or all-white. In many Asian cultures, these are funeral colors. A 2026 fashion report from HoneyKids Asia notes that even modern families still prioritize bright, cheery colors like gold, pink, and red for house visits to maintain the festive mood.

3. Social Etiquette: The Greeting Hierarchy

When you enter, don’t just wave at the room. Hierarchy matters.

• Respect the Elders: Always greet the oldest person in the room first. A simple “Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!” (新年快乐) or “Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái!” (恭喜发财) goes a long way.

• You work your way down the hierarchy chain. Grandparents or elderly first and next, people of your generation. Don't worry about the youngsters and kids, their parents will make sure they greet you instead.

• The Fire Horse Greeting: For 2026, a popular phrase is “Lóng Mǎ Jīng Shén” (龙马精神), which wishes someone the "Spirit of the Dragon and Horse"—essentially, boundless energy and health.

4. Red packets or AngPows

Prepare your red packets before visiting a Chinese home throughout the CNV festivities. You can get red packets from the banks or any financial institutions you work with. How much do you need to put inside? Ask around as the amount differ from country to country. A red packet in China may be different from Vietnam or Singapore.

• The Ang Pow rule: You’ll get an Ang Pow if you are single and available. In other words, you will receive instead of giving out if you are unmarried. Even at 30, 40 or 50. You are considered a "Junior" as long as you stay unmarried.

• You give out AngPows: You do not give out AngPows if you are unmarried. But if you are a superior at a working place, staying in an apartment building where there are facility/security workers or you are visiting a Chinese home for the first time, the rules bend a little and it would be good to be giving out red packets to subordinates, junior workers and children. How much to put in... again, it differs from country to country and it's best to find out and prepare the AngPows beforehand.

• New Notes: You’re game to give out Ang Pows. Great but for this, you got to work a little bit. Ensure the Ang Pows you give out are brand new and not recycled. Similarly, for notes that you put in, always use new notes. Banks give out new notes for CNY period and you can just exchange for them.

5. The Dining Table

If you are invited for a meal, you will likely participate in a feast of major proportions

• The Toss: In Singapore and Malaysia, you’ll stand around a giant plate of raw fish salad (Yu Sheng). Everyone uses chopsticks to toss the ingredients as high as possible while shouting auspicious wishes.

• The Higher, The Better: The messier the table, the better the year! Data from a 2026 Milieu Insight survey shows that over 85% of families in Singapore and Malaysia consider Lo Hei the most important social ritual of the festival.

• For Chinese in other parts, the food and wine on the table will just shock you. Traditionally, Chinese only eat one major meal a year, which is Spring festival, where everyone drops their farm tools and partake in feasts all day round.

  So be prepared to eat and drink till you drop literally.

The Guest Checklist for 2026

• [ ] Gifts: 2 or 8 Mandarin oranges per household. Avoid the Number 4.

• [ ] Attire: Bright colors (Red/Gold). No black or white.

• [ ] Ang Pows: Prepare red packets before hand. The more the merrier as you may not know how many people were invited to the home.

• [ ] Behavior: Use two hands for everything (receiving drinks, giving oranges).

• [ ] Conversation: Keep it positive. Avoid topics like illness, death, or "breaking" things.

Have you ever experienced a "cultural oops" during a festive visit? Tell us your funniest story!

What are the countries in Asia where Spring Festival is widely celebrated. This article may help in these countries as well.

Why CNY reunion dinner is such a big deal in CNY celebrations.

How is the Spring Fastival celebrated in South Korea and Vietnam.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.