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Chinese New Year in Singapore is celebrated annually. Normally, as in the case of Southeast Asia, Chinese New Year is 2 days; but it has the option to extend it to 3 days.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore start way before the festival arrives. People will purchase gifts, clean and decorate their homes in advance. Public transport services will continue to operate throughout the Chinese New Year. Many events are held, such as the River Hongbao event, Lion Dance and the Chingay Parade.

Prior to Chinese New Year

On the days immediately before the New Year celebration, Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning. There is a Cantonese saying "Wash away the dirt on ninyabaat" (年廿八，洗邋遢), but the practice is not restricted to nin'ya'baat (年廿八, the 28th day of month 12). It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that the newly arrived good luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and window-frames a new coat of red paint; decorators and paper-hangers do a year-end rush of business prior to Chinese New Year.^[1] Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and couplets. Purchasing new clothing and shoes also symbolize a new start. Any hair cuts need to be completed before the New Year, as cutting hair on New Year is considered bad luck due to the homonymic nature of the word "hair" (fa) and the word for "prosperity". Businesses are expected to pay off all the debts outstanding for the year before the new year eve, extending to debts of gratitude. Thus it is a common practice to send gifts and rice to close business associates, and extended family members.

Eve of Chinese New Year

On the eve of the Chinese New Year, families will eat their reunion dinner which signifies the reunion of the family. Many Singaporean families will have a steamboat dinner for their reunion dinner. Only some stores will be closed likewise those in the HDB blocks and markets. All of them take half-day of Chinese New Year, and the bus lanes continued to operate during the evening peak period; unlike Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, where they will release early without evening peak hours (New Year's Eve), or following the Saturday style without bus lanes in Christmas Eve. The Electronic Road Pricing operates until 1pm of the eve of public holidays. The Bedok Mall, Westgate, JEM, Tampines 1, City Square Mall, Plaza Singapura, Bugis Junction, Bugis+ and 100AM opens whole day, including JCube, Tampines Mall, Orchard Road, Century Square, Causeway Point and AMK Hub.

Some of them went to the Chinatown for the fireworks ceremony, and the countdown. Firecrackers will therefore be lighted up.

1st day of Chinese New Year

The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by nian (年) of which the term guo-nian (过年) was derived. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure longevity for them. Some consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all food to be consumed is cooked the days before. On this day, it is considered bad luck to use the broom.

Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents until the evenings. Night events will always be held.

Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married also give red packets containing cash known as lai see or angpow, a form of blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck, smooth-sailing, good health and wealth. Married couples will give red packets to the children. The red packets signifies blessing from the adults.

2nd day of Chinese New Year

The second day of the Chinese New Year, was when married daughters visited their birth parents, relatives and close friends. (Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.)

Some believe that the second day is also the birthday of all dogs and remember them with special treats. Some of the shops resumes business likewise in Boxing Day.

3rd day of Chinese New Year

The third day of Chinese New Year, is called "red mouth (Chinese: 赤口; pinyin: Chìkǒu). Chikou is also known as "Chigou's Day" (Chinese: 赤狗日; pinyin: Chìgǒurì". Chigou literally means the "the God of Blazing Wrath". Villagers would usually pass the tradition of burning paper offering over trash fries. It is considered as an unlucky day to have guests or go visit each other. It is also considered a good day to visit the temple of the God of Wealth and ask for one's future told.

4th day of Chinese New Year

The fourth day is when companies "spring dinners" take place and business is back to normal.

5th day of Chinese New Year

This day is the God of Wealth's birthday. It is common that people shoot off firecrackers to get Guan Yu's attention, hence to get fortune for the new year.

7th day of Chinese New Year

The seventh day, traditionally called as Renri (the common person's birthday).It is the day when everyone grows one year older. People in singapore eat yusheng for continued wealth and prosperity.

8th day of Chinese New Year

Another family dinner is held to celebrate the eve of the birth of the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven. Some people will hold a ritual prayer at after midnight on the eighth day. This practice of Bai Ti Gong can also be seen in Singapore.

9th day of Chinese New Year

The ninth day of the New Year is a day fro Chinese to offer prayers to the jade Emperor of Heaven in the Daoist Panthean. The ninth day if traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor. People normally offer thanks to the Emperor of Heaven by sugarcane. There is a legend that Hokkien were saved from a massacre by Japanese pirates by hiding in a sugarcane plantation during the eighth and ninth days of the Chinese New Year, which is also the Jade Emperor's birthday. Since "sugarcane" (Chinese: 甘蔗; pinyin: gānzhe; Hokkien: kam-chià) rhythms with "thank you" in Chinese in the Hokkien dialet. Hokkiens offer sugarcane on the eve of his birthday, which symbolizes their gratitude.

10th day of Chinese New Year

People also celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor.

13th day of Chinese New Year

On the 13th day people will eat pure vegetarian in order to clean out their stomachs since they consumed too much food over the past two weeks.

This day is dedicated to the General Guan Yu also known as the Chinese God of War. Guan Yu was born in the Han dynasty and is considered the greatest general in Chinese history. He symbolizes loyalty , strength, truth, and justice. He had won over hundred battles and that is a common goal for all Chinese. people view him as the God of Wealth or the God of Success.

15th day of Chinese New Year

The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as "Yuanxiao Festival" (simplified Chinese: 元宵节; traditional Chinese: 元宵節; pinyin: Yuánxiāojié), also known as "Shangyuan Festival" (simplified Chinese: 上元节; traditional Chinese: 上元節; pinyin: Shàngyuánjié) or the Lantern Festival. People would eat rice dumplings, a sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup, and are eaten this day. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk teh street carrying lighted lanterns.

In SIngapore, This day is celebrated by individuals seeking for a romantic partner, which is related to Valentine's Day.

This day also ends the Chinese New Year festivities.

Practice

Lion Dance

The Chinese in Singapore believe that the lion brings wealth and fortune. There is a legend that a monster creature, the Nian would damage the fields, crops and animals of farmers each year on the eve of Chinese New Year. Villagers are afraid of the the Nian. In order to scare off the Nian, the villagers put up red signs on the doors and play the drums. This plan was successful, ever since then, the lion dance was preformed annually to celebrate it. The best time and place to see the lion dance performance is on the eve of Chinese New Year in Chinatown. ^[2]

Chingay Parade Singapore

The Chingay Parade is a traditional big street parade which includes a lot of dancers, street floats, jugglers, percussionists, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and acrobats.

The Chingay Parade is originally from China. It is held two weeks after the Lunar New Year to welcome the season of spring. The name "Chingay" was from the Hokkien dialect. It means "the act of costume and masquerade", and the first parade was first organized back in 1973.

In the 1990s, the parade starts from evening and ends on ends on the next day night. Every one participate in the Chingay. In the past few years, the parade goes around the key areas in Singapore, such as the Outram Park, Orchard Road and the CIty Hall.

During Chinese New Year, it is a good idea to go to the Formula One Pit Building at the Marina Waterfront for the Chingay Parade. Lately, it has moved from Orchard Road to this stadium-like venue to hold more spectators, you will be entertained by the international and local acts on mobile floats to other varied forms of street gaiety.

In recent years, the festival has been influenced by Asians and globally, with around 2,000 performances from different clubs, schools and institutions gyrating to Samba music, and has given the parade a growing reputation as the Mardi Gras of the East - in a combination of shiny and colourful costumes. Since 2000, groups from other countries like Ghana, Brazil and Slovenia have also contributed in the parade, entertaining tourist and Singaporeans, which demonstrates a culturally diverse society. ^[3]

River Hongbao

"Hong Bao" means red pocket in Chinese. It is a cash gift related to Chinese New Year. It represents good luck. Since 1986, the River Hongbao event has been an annual Chinese New Year event that keeps and exercise the Chinese cultures and traditions. In the River Hongbao event, there would be Chinese calligraphy, riddle game and a chance for you to try special cuisine at the food fair. Red lanterns which shows Chinese characters come to life such as the popular God of Fortune and the animals of the Chinese Zodiac would also be seen. River Hongbao event is held on the Marina Bay Floating Platform and the Esplanade Waterfront Promenade on the 15th day after the Chinese New Year Day. ^[4]

In 2014 Chinese New Year in Singapore, there was performances by Yunnan Opera Theatre, lanterns, Chinese Gods and legends, handicraft Street and food street, and Opening Night and Chinese New Year Eve Countdown Party. ^[5]

""Bai Ti Gong"" Bai Ti Gong means praying to Jade Emperor with sugarcanes. It is usually taken place on the 9th day of Chinese New Year. People used to be heard till 4am, however, since fireworks are banned in Singapore. Bai Ti Gong has changed into a quiet event. Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and gold paper is served as a customary protocol for paying respect to an honoured person.

Food for Chinese New Year in Singapore

1. Yusheng, or Prosperity Toss is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. It is usually made up by strips of raw fish (typically salmon), mixed with mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments. The pronunciation of Yusheng in chinese is similar as Yúshēng (余升) which means increase in abundance. Hence, yusheng is a symbol of abundance and prosperity. People in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore eats Yusheng during Chinese New year festivals.

2. Noodles(麵) are a typical food in Chinese New Year in Singapore. Noodles are not normally cut so it would be as long as possible. According to Chinese culture, the longer the noodles, the longer our lives are.

3. Mandarin Oranges: Mandarin oranges symbolize luck and prosperity as its chinese pronunciation is similar to the Chinese character to luck (吉). Moreover, its orange colour is similar to gold colour, which symbolizes gold.

4. Egg rolls (蛋卷): In Chinese tradition, eggs symbolize fertility which explains why eggs are given out on the first-month celebration of a new-born.

5. Rice cake (年糕): It is very common in Chinese families in Singapore during Chinese New year. Rice cakes are a famous dessert during the festival. Its sweetness symbolizes a prosperous year ahead, and its round shape represents family reunion.

Greetings

The Chinese New Year often comes with loud greetings, often referred to 吉祥話(jíxiánghùa) in Mandarin, which means asupicious words or phrases. Some of the common greetings include: simplified Chinese: 新年快乐; traditional Chinese: 新年快樂; Mandarin Pinyin: Xīnniánkuàilè; Jyutping: san1 nin4 faai3 lok6; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sin-nî khòai-lo̍k; Hakka: Sin Ngen Kai Lok; Taishanese: Slin Nen Fai Lok means "Happy New Year" . Moreover, simplified Chinese: 恭喜发财; traditional Chinese: 恭喜發財; pinyin: Gōngxǐfācái; Hokkien: Keong hee huat chye (POJ: Kiong-hí hoat-châi); Cantonese: Gung1 hei2 faat3 coi4; Hakka: Gong Hei Fat Choi are commonly used. It means "Congratulations and be prosperous".

References

^ Welch, Patricia Bjaaland, p. 9.
^ [1], Singapore Tourism Board. (2013). Your Singapore: See & Do. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
^ [2], Singapore Tourism Board (2013). Your Singapore: See & Do. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
^ [3], Singapore Tourism Board. (2013). Your Singapore: See & Do. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
^ [4], River Hongbao. (2014). Retrieved March 8, 2014.

External links

Category:Chinese diaspora in Singapore Category:Chinese New Year

This Singapore-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Welch, Patricia Bjaaland, p. 9.

[Lion_Dance-2] [1], Singapore Tourism Board. (2013). Your Singapore: See & Do. Retrieved March 8, 2014.

[Chingay_Parade_Singapore-3] [2], Singapore Tourism Board (2013). Your Singapore: See & Do. Retrieved March 8, 2014.

[River_Hongbao-4] [3], Singapore Tourism Board. (2013). Your Singapore: See & Do. Retrieved March 8, 2014.

[test-5] [4], River Hongbao. (2014). Retrieved March 8, 2014.

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