By outdoor-nature-child.com As we approach the Lunar New Year, Target has launched a vibrant spring collection that highlights a variety of festive products. With dedicated in-store displays and a special showcase on their official website, the collection promises to bring the spirit of the holiday to shoppers. This year, the talented young Chinese-American designer Yiran Xia has crafted the collection, drawing inspiration from Vietnamese New Year traditions.
If you search for “Lunar New Year” on Target’s website, you’ll discover a themed page dedicated to celebrating the Year of the Dragon. The collection is thoughtfully organized into six categories: tableware, red envelopes, decorations, food, entertainment and crafts, and clothing. The design features a lively palette of red, gold, and black, with auspicious dragon motifs that embody the festive atmosphere of the occasion.
Yiran Xia, an illustrator based in New York with roots in Shenzhen, China, infuses her work with vibrant imagery and joyful themes. Target captures her artistic spirit by stating, “She loves to bring lively and celebratory visuals to everyone’s life, decorating our experiences through both visual and spiritual connections.”
An interesting feature of this collection is the inclusion of essential Lunar New Year items alongside a traditional Vietnamese game called “Bầu cua tôm cá,” or “Gourd, Crab, Fish, Tiger.” This game, which involves betting with three dice, adds a unique Vietnamese cultural element to Target’s spring offering.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in Vietnam just like in many other Chinese-speaking regions and on the Korean Peninsula. Festivities include customs like sending off deities, decorating with couplets, family reunion dinners, ancestor worship, giving red envelopes, and staying awake until the new year arrives. A distinctive aspect of Vietnamese tradition is the enjoyment of square sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves and filled with mung beans or pork, a practice that also mirrors customs observed in Guangxi, China.
During this festive season, many Vietnamese people love to visit flower markets to purchase potted plants, including peach blossoms, marigolds—locally known as “Mai”—and kumquat trees. This custom shares inspiration with traditions in areas like Guangdong and Okinawa.
In California, the Vietnamese communities in San Jose and Orange County are among the largest in the United States. San Jose is particularly vibrant, featuring a bustling district known as Vietnam Town, where many shops run by Vietnamese Chinese merchants proudly display bilingual signs. As the New Year approaches, these businesses overflow with festive decorations and a rich variety of seasonal offerings, truly embodying the spirit of celebration.