Lunar New Year is one of the biggest celebrations in the world, and it's marked across the UK with family meals, lion dances, red decorations and city centre events. For businesses, it's a chance to share something colourful and positive during the new year celebrations, connect with customers who celebrate and give everyone else a reason to join in.
Here are 25 Lunar New Year social media post ideas for UK businesses, whether you run a restaurant, a shop, a salon, a trade business or a B2B brand, plus example captions, hashtags and a few things to be careful about.
When is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year follows the lunar calendar, so the date changes every year, landing between late January and mid February. Check the date and zodiac animal each year, and use the traditions relevant to your audience. Celebrations traditionally last around 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival.
- Date changes every year
- Zodiac animal changes each year
- Start posting two weeks before
Why it's worth posting about
Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and many other communities across the UK, and the wider public increasingly joins in too, from city centre parades to a special meal out. It's a natural fit for restaurants, takeaways, bakeries, Asian supermarkets and gift shops, but it works for plenty of other businesses: salons offering a fresh look for the new year, florists, homeware shops, and any brand that wants to celebrate the customers and team members who mark the day.
It's also in our free UK social media calendar, alongside 200+ other dates worth planning for.
Post ideas for the weeks before
Start around two weeks out. This is when people book meals, plan family gatherings and shop for the new year.
Share the date and the zodiac animal
Plenty of people don't know when Lunar New Year is because it moves every year. A simple post with the date and the relevant zodiac animal is helpful and gets shared.
Announce your special menu
Restaurants and takeaways can share a set menu or banquet for families and groups, with booking details. Post updates as tables fill up.
Show off your gifts and decorations
Red and gold decorations, gift boxes, plants and treats all make popular gifts. Make it clear what you sell and how to order.
Explain a tradition
A short carousel on red envelopes, the reunion dinner or why people clean their homes before the new year is genuinely interesting and educational.
Share local events
Round up the parades, lion dances and celebrations near you, with dates and times. It's useful and shows you're part of the community.
Post last order and booking dates
Be clear about the last day to book a table or order for delivery. Deadlines are one of the best reasons to act.
Behind the scenes prep
Show dumplings being folded, decorations going up or a special order being packed. It builds excitement and shows the care you put in.
Update your Google Business Profile
Add your Lunar New Year menu, event or opening hours there too, as people search locally for things to do. Here's why posting on your Google Business Profile matters.
Post ideas for Lunar New Year itself
Share a warm new year message
A simple post wishing everyone health, happiness and good fortune in the year ahead is warm and easy to share.
Post live from the celebrations
Stories of a lion dance, a busy restaurant or a festive shop window feel immediate and show people what they're missing.
Share a recipe
Dumplings, spring rolls or a sweet treat for the new year. Recipes get saved, which helps your reach long after the day.
Celebrate your team's traditions
With permission, invite team members who celebrate to share what the day means to them and how their family marks it.
Ask a fun question
What's your zodiac animal? Have you ever been to a Lunar New Year parade? Questions like these are easy to answer and get comments.
Run a giveaway
Offer a meal for the family, a gift box or a voucher. Keep the rules simple and check each platform's competition rules first. Our guide to running a Facebook competition walks through it.
Spotlight your best seller
What do customers always choose for Lunar New Year? Make it the star of one post.
Share some good luck
A post sharing traditional wishes for luck and prosperity, explained simply, feels positive and fits the mood of the day.
Post ideas for service and B2B businesses
You don't need to sell dumplings or decorations to get involved. These work for trades, professional services and B2B brands.
Wish your clients and partners well
A short new year message to clients, suppliers and partners who celebrate is thoughtful and works well on LinkedIn.
Talk about fresh starts
Lunar New Year is a natural moment for a fresh start. Share a tip for getting organised, saving money or planning ahead.
Highlight your international connections
If you work with customers or suppliers across Asia, share a little about those relationships and what you've learned.
Share a team celebration
A photo from a team lunch or a celebration in the office, with permission, shows your culture and puts faces to your business.
Post ideas for after the day
Say thank you
A thank you after the celebrations, ideally with a photo from the celebrations, rounds things off nicely.
Share the highlights
A short reel or carousel of the best moments shows how popular you were and gives people a reason to come back next year.
Mark the Lantern Festival
The celebrations end with the Lantern Festival about two weeks later. A closing post with lanterns or a sweet treat is a lovely final touch.
Ask for reviews
People are at their most positive straight after a great night, so ask while it's fresh. Here's how to encourage more reviews.
Point people to Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is another seasonal date to consider when planning your next campaign. Check how the dates fall before linking the two. A gentle teaser keeps people following and gets bookings started early.
Example Lunar New Year captions
Copy these, swap in your own details and you're good to go.
Lunar New Year is coming, and our celebration menu is ready 🧧
Share dumplings, noodles and plenty more with the whole family as we welcome the new year.
Tables for big groups are filling up fast.
Tap the link in our bio to book yours.
Lunar New Year starts tomorrow, and the shop is looking very red and very festive 🏮
We've got gift boxes, decorations and treats ready for you to take home today.
Pop in before 5pm or order online for collection.
Find everything at the link in our bio.
Happy Lunar New Year to everyone celebrating today 🧧
We wish you and your family health, happiness and good fortune in the year ahead.
Thank you to all our customers and team members who've shared their traditions with us.
Tell us in the comments how you're celebrating this year.
Lunar New Year hashtags
Use a few of the main ones and add a local hashtag for extra reach.
- #LunarNewYear
- #ChineseNewYear
- #HappyLunarNewYear
- #LunarNewYearUK
- #ShopLocal + your town
Tips to get more from it
Start early
Begin posting two weeks before. Family meals and group bookings are planned well ahead, and the final week gets crowded.
Be respectful
Lunar New Year matters deeply to the people who celebrate it. Avoid stereotypes and costumes, check any traditions or phrases you use, and ask team members or customers who celebrate for their input.
Use inclusive wording
Many communities celebrate, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean families, so Lunar New Year is the most inclusive term. Chinese New Year is fine when you're talking specifically about Chinese traditions.
Keep your call to action clear
Book, order, buy or share. Pick one per post. Here's how to choose the right call to action.
Lunar New Year FAQs
When is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year falls between late January and mid February, with the date and zodiac animal changing each year. Check the date and relevant traditions for the community you are celebrating.
Is Lunar New Year the same as Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year is one of several Lunar New Year celebrations. The same festival is also celebrated as Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea, among others, so Lunar New Year is the more inclusive term.
When should I start posting about Lunar New Year?
Start around two weeks before with menus, gift ideas and event details, post more often in the final week, then follow up with a thank you and a Lantern Festival post afterwards.
How can I post about Lunar New Year respectfully?
Focus on celebrating, avoid stereotypes, check any traditions or phrases you use, and involve people who celebrate where you can. Warm, genuine posts go down far better than gimmicks.
Can 99social create my Lunar New Year posts?
Yes. 99social plans, designs, writes and schedules content for UK small businesses from £99+VAT a month, with key dates like this built in. See our social media management for small businesses.
