While there is a long-standing tradition of Chinese brides going home to visit their families during the lunar new year, that usually happens on the second day of the lunar new year. For newlyweds, the first lunar new year visit is known as the “welcoming the son-in-law” day, literally.

Whether you’re newly married or not, your husband should buy auspicious gifts, usually a bottle of red wine or tonic wine like Yomeishu, for your parents.

To spread good luck and fortune, couples traditionally should buy new year goodies and “lucky” gifts such as tea sets, bird’s nest, ginseng, and so on. If you don’t have time to go shopping, a red packet with money for your in-laws to purchase such items or to make new clothes for the year is fine, too.

Study the layout of your home. The symbol for children (Gen 艮) is located in the northeast, according to the Feng Shui Eight Directions chart (Bagua). If there is an unfilled corner in the northeast part of your bedroom, it will be difficult for married couples to conceive.

While newlyweds in their first year will still receive red packets from their elders, you’ll still have to prepare your own for your younger relatives. If you’re unsure about the amount to put in, look online for angpow guides, or ask your parents for a gauge. Even if you’re not giving them out this year, don’t forget to give angpows to both your parents, as well as grandparents, as a gesture of good luck and well wishes.

Try not to quarrel on Chinese New Year day but if you do fight (this is unavoidable in all marriages), do it in the bedroom. Never quarrel in the kitchen. According to Wilfred, he notices that couples who argue in the kitchen should take it as a big warning sign of a failing marriage.

If you’ve been married for some time, skip this slide but newlyweds take note of the proper way to address your new relatives. By that we mean your husband’s relatives! Now that you’re married, it’s not proper to be calling everyone “aunty” or “uncle”. It should be “second aunt”, “eldest uncle”, and so on to you. The same rule applies to your husband, too.

If you’ve moved out and are living on your own, don’t forget that mum and dad won’t be around to help you with chores such as spring cleaning and buying new year goodies, so you must get your household in order yourself. Do remember to keep all doors and windows open throughout the day, too, to allow the new luck to fill your home.

In general, couples should try to wear bright and happy colours on the first day of Chinese New Year. Pink, red and white are classified as marriage colours in feng shui but many men will refuse to be seen in pink especially. Try to incorporate these colours into your outfit using accessories to foster a stronger marriage bond.

The spring period is the best time to get married if you’re thinking about walking down the aisle. It’s an auspicious period and according to the lunar calendar is usually one for celebration and joy, which is why it’s being heralded as the coming of new beginnings. Your wedding, if held during this period, will be seen as a double celebration.

A happy marriage also has to do with your relationship with your mother-in-law. Based on Wilfred’s research, wealth is related to your relationship with your mother-in-law after marriage. If you have a cordial relationship, you are less likely to stress and could spend your energy on your husband and your moneymaking ventures, both of which could result in better wealth for you.

If you want your marriage to blossom in the Year of the Rat, consider adorning your home with fresh flowers. If those flowers happen to be peonies even better! Once hard to find, peonies are much more common in flower markets and florists than they once were. The peonies are the queen flower of romance in feng shui. If your love life has ground to a halt, purchase red and pink peonies for the Chinese New Year. The red is highly regarded as a good fortune color (as well as passion!) and the pink is regarded as the romantic and tender kind of love.

The 15th day is the last and final day of CNY and is often considered the Valentine’s day for Chinese. Try to wear red on this day. Red is especially auspicious at the start of the New Year, and even more so on the last day, or Valentine’s Day, so to speak, of the Chinese New Year. Better still, red energises and wearing red on the day final day of Chinese New Year is a great way to energize yourself for love all year long. Besides that, men and women both look terrific in red colors – and the colour is magnetic!

We know it sounds cheesy but why not try praying for a better, stronger marriage? During CNY, prayers and wishes are often written on prayer flags and ribbons or paper and then hung in the wind to disperse your for the coming year. Write down your wish and hand it up on a wishing tree near a window in your home or outside on the balcony where it can blow in the wind.

Text by Wilfred Leu and Felicia Tan, Her World Brides / Additional Reporting by Natalya Molok

This post was updated on January 16, 2020.