Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's love of rabbits has paired nicely with 2023's Lunar New Year celebrations after he was spotted obsessively showing off his red tie emblazoned with the animal to anyone who would listen. 

Mr Albanese attended a Lunar New Year celebration in Box Hill, in Melbourne's southeast, on Sunday where he was repeatedly caught on camera showing off the red tie adorned with the furry creatures to other attendees. 

Chinese New Year celebrations officially started on January 22 and will end on February 1. 

It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, marking the end of winter and the beginning of the new year, which is based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

According to the Chinese zodiac - a traditional classification system based on the lunar calendar - each year in a 12-year rotation cycle is assigned an animal. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.

Australian TikToker Victor Grey posted the light-hearted video of the prime minister wandering around festivities at Box Hill, even getting a question in before Mr Albanese was ushered into his car.

The suburb is situated in the Whitehorse local government area and has a large Chinese population, with 7.3 percent of residents born in China.

'Just look how chuffed Anthony Albanese is about his tie,' Mr Grey said in the video.

'He just wants to show it off to everybody'. 

In the TikTok clip, Mr Albanese looked pleased as he showed the tie to a woman seated next to him, who fanned herself in the summer heat.

He then turned to his other side to show off the tie to another woman, before inviting the man next to her to give his approval, which he did with an eager thumbs up.

In the video, Mr Grey then asks the prime minister whether the tie was intentional or 'was just supporting the Rabbitohs'.

Mr Albanese responds with an indignant 'No!' and said it was a 'conscious' effort to fit in with the local celebrations.

'Red with bunnies. Perfect,' he said, as he walked alongside the camera smiling and holding a stuffed rabbit toy.

Mr Albanese's love for rabbits isn't new.

The prime minister is one of the most passionate backers of the NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs' team.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, he was regularly seen in a Rabbitohs' face mask and frequently attends NRL games in support of his beloved team, donned in team colours red and green.

Mr Grey said at the end of the clip the prime minister had given off 'some premium chuffed dad vibes'. 

'I honestly don't think he was this happy when he won the election,' he said. 

Mr Grey's followers praised the prime minister for his 'wholesome' display of excitement.

'I legitimately LOVE seeing people this happy about things and not being afraid to show it. We need more of this in the world,' one comment read.

Lunar New Year, referred to in China as nongli xinnian - meaning 'agricultural calendar New Year' or 'farmers' calendar New Year' – is thought to have originated in ancient China around 3500 years ago. 

The Year of the Rabbit is the fourth year in the cycle, following the Year of the Tiger and preceding the Year of the Dragon.