Taking place on the eve of Chinese New Year, reunion dinners are one of the most anticipated events that are part of the New Year’s celebrations. Family members from all around reunite and gather around the dinner table to have lively conversations and bond over a sumptuous meal.
Now that travel and social gathering restrictions are in place, relatives who live afar or abroad may not be able to return home to celebrate with us. This year’s celebrations might not be as lively or as festive as they once were but we should count our blessings and spend them with those who are with us and have a more intimate celebration instead. We are all looking forward to the festivities, no matter how small or large the gathering may be, and as always, part of the excitement surrounding Chinese New Year is having to shop for new clothes.
Scroll down for some tips and ideas on choosing the most suitable shirt to wear to your reunion dinner this year!
What To Wear?
When buying your reunion dinner outfit, you will need to take into consideration the type of shirt you would want to wear. If you and your family are having reunion dinner at a nice restaurant, we suggest that you go for a polo tee which is suitable for both casual and formal settings. However, if you are looking for a more casual, laid-back look, you could always opt for a v-neck or a round neck t-shirt.
It is expected that your New Year’s Eve will be filled with laughter and you will be busy playing games with your family, so selecting the right material for your outfit is just as important. Pure cotton polo tees and t-shirts are great options to make sure that you feel cool and comfortable throughout the day. The thought of having to wear rough, stuffy, and uncomfortable clothes would be the last thing on your mind!
Customised Chinese New Year T-Shirts
It is not uncommon these days for people to wear customised t-shirts that match for family reunions. Just because there is a possibility that not every family member will be home for Chinese New Year, it doesn’t mean that there is no reason why you and your family can’t dress up this year. Wearing matching outfits with your loved ones who are away from home will help them feel more connected and perhaps less homesick during these trying times.
Your family’s surname is what binds family members who live all over the world together, giving everyone a sense of belonging. We find that a custom t shirt Singapore with your family’s Chinese surname printed on it would be the perfect outfit. Whether you are celebrating your family reunion in person or virtually via Zoom, gather everyone around for a quick photoshoot to capture these happy moments that you can always look back on and cherish.
Year of The Tiger
In a twelve-year cycle, the lunar calendar assigns a Chinese Zodiac animal to each year. This year’s zodiac animal is the tiger and what better way to usher in the new year than to wear a t-shirt with a roar-some tiger print? If you favour a more minimalist look, you could instead have a simple and small logo of a tiger printed or embroidered on the chest of your t-shirt.
Go For Versatility
On the other hand, for a much more sustainable Chinese New Year t-shirt idea, you can choose a more versatile design that can still be worn for multiple Chinese New Year celebrations. Having a t-shirt with a tiger print would mean that you would have to wait another 12 years to put it on again.
Versatile t-shirt designs include symbols or elements that are generally associated with Chinese New Year. People can usually be seen donning shirts with traditional Chinese New Year elements during this festive season, and we are sure you have seen examples of these shirts.
For instance, you are bound to see images of the double fish symbol along with the phrase “nian nian you yu” wherever you go, whether it is on gifts or as decoration at the mall. They are often used in Chinese culture as they represent an abundance of prosperity and good fortune. This is because the Chinese character for ‘fish’ has the same pronunciation as the word for ‘abundance’.
Another example of what you can add to your custom t shirt Singapore is a caricature of the God of Wealth. Not only is it a cute and fun design, it is a popular t-shirt design for its lucky meaning.
Wearing t-shirts with simple yet significant designs or motifs like these ones is a fun way to spread joy to everyone around you.
Wear The Right Colours
Now that you have a rough idea of the graphics you would want on your t-shirt, it is time to select the colour of your shirt!
It goes without saying that you should wear auspicious colours during the Chinese New Year reunion dinner.
You should avoid wearing dark colours such as black or grey since they represent bad luck, death, and other unfortunate things. White shirts are also out of the question as they are associated with sadness and mourning and are worn during funerals.
Instead, wearing auspicious colours such as red, yellow, or gold signifies good luck, happiness, and prosperity, and it is certain to please your elders, especially if they appreciate cultural traditions.
Conclusion
We hope this guide gives you some ideas on what to wear during your upcoming Chinese New Year reunion dinner!

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Our tshirt printing Singapore service allows you to print your ideal shirt designs on breathable shirts that come in a wide range of colours, including red, maroon, and yellow.
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