Manchester United's CNY: The lockdown edition

That being said, how do you celebrate in a global pandemic? While restrictions vary from place to place, there are still plenty of ways to welcome in the new year - we've even got a few suggestions for you...

Wear New Clothes
The first day of the year is the time to crack out the new threads to celebrate the occasions. Whether you spend the day communicating with others or just relaxing, the tradition of new clothes is not one to be missed this year. Our exclusive Chinese New Year range features everything you need to set the right tone for a prosperous year, like this cool red jersey with ox detailing, swirled by the auspicious cloud to see you through all year. it ticks all the boxes.

Available now at United Direct.

If that’s not quite red enough and you fancy going all out, there’s plenty to choose from at United Direct. Take a look at this iconic adidas Z.N.E jacket, modelled by Daniel James to start with, cosy enough to keep you warm, but cool enough to pull in the compliments.

Available now at United Direct.

Fancy something cooler? Look no further than the retro vibes of the icons long sleeve t-shirt with classic three stripe long sleeves. Check out the full selection on United Direct.

Tidy house
Ok, this one is a given, but since we’re all spending so much time at home, this one is a win-win. The 24th day is a prime opportunity to not only drive away any bad luck from last year, but also sort out your work from home station set up and get the place ready for a fresh start.

New Year shopping
So hitting the normal shops this new year may not be an option, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stick with this tradition thanks to some smart online shopping. Postage is delayed in a lot of places so make sure you order early so you can get your new gear in plenty of time.

Put up decorations
Now the house is nice and tidy, it’s time for the papercuts and decorations. Fill the house with red to keep the Nian away, door gods to keep the house safe and fu to bring in happiness. Let’s face it, the more, the merrier!

Reunion dinner
Whether your reunion dinner can be shared with your wider family, or this year it’s limited to just your bubble, make sure you don’t skimp on the dumplings. A whole fish might feel like a lot for a smaller gathering, but it just leaves more for the new year, and hopefully more blessings too. Why not set up the wider family with video calling so you can live stream multiple dinners together at once? You might need to provide a few lessons in advance for gran in advance, but the chance to see everyone and compare feasts makes it worthwhile.

Watch West Brom build-up
The first day of the Year of the Ox sees Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men take on West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. With a great run on the pitch of late, there could be a lot to play for at the top of the table. After indulging in one too many rice balls, what better way to finish the day's festivities than sitting back and enjoying the build-up to clash on MUTV. You can subscribe to MUTV now. Why not double up and watch in the red home kit, available at United Direct now with 25 per cent off for a very limited time.

Send red envelopes
Although most of the red envelopes of this year will be WeChat based, it’s still an essential part of the festivities. This year, see if you can get lucky with one of our red envelopes in our free competition, where where you could win one of 50 e-vouchers for United Direct, ranging from £10 to £50, or enter to win a Manchester United home shirt. Enter online at manutd.com/LuckyRedEnvelopes and share the love with your family too, they might even treat you if they win!

Firecrackers and fireworks
For many who don't live in major cities, fireworks are a huge part of the traditional new year festivities, and one we can all get behind. Do you believe in scaring away bad luck at midnight? Sounds perfect right now. Or maybe you want to welcome good luck in the morning? Count us in! But please check your local regulations before setting off fireworks.