In anticipation of the Lunar New Year on February 12, pick up a set of red pocket envelopes designed by Special Special to gift and celebrate the year of the Metal Ox! For more inspiration on how to ring in the New Year the Special Special way, consult our auspicious gift guide. Lunar New Year festivities mark a new beginning that is aligned with natural cycles, ushering in the spring season according to the 24 solar terms. During this holiday, it is not only traditional to gather loved ones together, but also to clean out different spaces in our lives—in our homes and within ourselves.

Even though the pandemic might affect how these rituals are carried out, it doesn’t mean that they cannot be continued in alternative ways. In light of the chaos that ensued after the Gregorian New Year, let us collectively press a reset button. 

 Our Red Pocket Envelope 2021 charts an ox in the stars to form a constellation, hinting at Jupiter's twelve-year cycle that the Chinese zodiac system is based on. This year, we can cast our wanderlust onto the skies. Special Special's annual red pocket envelope designs come in a pack of five and are meant to be used for all kinds of occasions or even in different years. Traditionally, the ox embodies qualities such as groundedness, an unrelenting work ethic, and a reliable memory. Let our Follow the Rules Notebook be a testament to your trustworthiness or "un-RULE-iness", and write things down so that your memory becomes foolproof. 

Red and gold are colors that bring good fortune and correspond to the elements of fire and metal. Give a set of keys along with a Stay As Long As You Like Keychain to convince luck to stay around, and wear the E for Effort Twist Tie Ring as a reminder that every moment is a new beginning. 

Setting off fireworks and firecrackers are central activities to the Lunar New Year celebration. Loud noises and flashes are thought to scare away evil spirits. However, combustion does not always have to take place outdoors or even in the physical realm. Ward off bad energy all year round with Mystery Circle Lenticular Card by Cai Guo-Qiang and Daytime Explosion Earrings by Hong Hong Wu. 

Finally, homophones and rhyming words are often widely used in festive occasions, often influencing the kinds of foods consumed and which gifts are exchanged. Conversely, certain characters considered inauspicious and their homophonic counterparts are avoided altogether. Our Japanese Workman's Shoes, or 布鞋 bùxié (canvas shoes), is homophonic with the phrase 不邪, meaning “not evil” or “unskewed”. Wear them to ground the auspicious energy in the earth.