Chinatown Stories | Updated as of August 2019

Chinese New Year In Chinatown, celebrations for the Spring Festival or can last for up to seven weeks.

The most important holiday for Chinese around the world, Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon between the end of January and the end of February. Though this festival officially lasts for 15 days, it is celebrated in Chinatown for up to seven weeks.

Festival Origins Based on the lunar calendar, which takes into account the moon phases, solar solstices and equinoxes, the date of Chinese New Year varies on the Gregorian calendar each year. In , it marks the end of the coldest days of the year. Also known as the Spring Festival (春节), it is associated with new harvests and fresh beginnings.

The festival is believed to have originated some 3,500 years ago, though its exact beginning is not recorded. Oracle bones show that sacrificial ceremonies for the New Year were held as early as the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046BC).

Myths and legends surround this festival, the best known of which involves the mystical beast (年), which terrorised villages, and ate people, livestock and crops on the eve of Chinese New Year. To scare away this monster, the Chinese used loud noises such as and the colour red. These traditions continue today, adding to the festive bustle.

New Year Decorations Chinatown is the best place to soak in the ambience during Chinese New Year. Vibrant festive decorations are put up shortly after the Gregorian New Year in January. Since red is the most auspicious colour in the , the streets are dressed in the most vivid shades of scarlet and crimson. Thousands of colourful lanterns, pictures and figures of Chinese deities, as well as red couplets with auspicious greetings are seen everywhere.

Some of the most common greetings are ‘Happy New Year’ or xin nian kuai le (新年快乐), ‘congratulations on prosperity’ or xi fa cai (恭喜发财), as well as other blessings related to fortune, wealth, health, longevity, plentiful harvests, achievements in studies and family bliss.

Decorations prominently feature the Chinese zodiac animal of the year – the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog or pig. Large effigies and pictures of the animal can often be seen across Chinatown. This Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal and its attributes.

Exuberant Celebrations Some two weeks before the first day of Chinese New Year, Chinatown celebrates with an Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony. Traditional lanterns as well as sculptured lanterns of the zodiac animal of the year are lit, and remain illuminated every evening for more than a month.

The public is also treated to performances from local and overseas troupes, including acrobatic performances, traditional and modern mandarin songs, as well as . To cap off the evening with vivacity and jubilance, firecrackers and are set off. Outside of Chinese

Page 1 of 3 Chinatown Stories | Updated as of August 2019

New Year celebrations in Chinatown, firecrackers are banned in .

Lion performances (舞狮) can be seen throughout the festive season. Two dancers don a lion and mimic the movements of a lion, while performing this joyous dance to exuberant drumming. This boisterous performance is believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck.

The best time to catch this rousing performance is during the annual International Lion Dance Competition. Already in its 12th year, this competition sees leading lion dance troupes from Singapore and the region perform breathtaking stuns to vie for the championship.

Nightly stage performances also add to the vibrancy of Chinatown during the festive season. Local and overseas artistes belt out festive songs, and dance to lively hits in open spaces such as Kreta Ayer Square. This culminates in a yearly countdown party on Lunar New Year Eve, graced by MediaCorp artistes, and ending with a dazzling display of fireworks and firecrackers.

Festive Shopping During Lunar New Year, the streets of Chinatown are transformed into a bustling bazaar, with numerous makeshift stalls. These stalls sell everything from colourful clothing to bright lights, decoration and plants. The Festive Street Bazaar (年货市场) extends from Pagoda Street to Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street. Jostling with the crowd is part of the unique Chinatown Lunar New Year experience.

Since many Chinese homeowners host extended family and friends during the Lunar New Year period, they perform a major spring cleaning and decorate their houses with auspicious items found at the bazaar. This includes red lanterns, Chinese couplets, door scrolls, auspicious potted plants and exquisite paper cuttings. Besides sprucing up the houses, they are believed to attract good luck and prosperity in the year to come.

Hosts will also offer guests an array of festive goodies. Many of these delicious snacks have symbolic meanings, often related to the puns in their names. Pineapple tarts are enjoyed because the word ‘pineapple’ (黃梨) is pronounced as ‘ong lai’ in , which also means ‘prosperity is arriving’.

Nian gao (年糕) or sticky rice cakes translates to mean ‘year cake’. However, since ‘gao’ (糕) sounds exactly like the Chinese word of high (高), these rice cakes symbolise scaling greater heights each year. Bak kwa (肉干) or sweet barbecued pork jerky is flavoured for its lucky red colour. Mandarin oranges are exchanged and consumed because the pronunciation for oranges (柑, kam) sounds like the word for ‘gold’.

Besides the festive bazaars, many heritage shops in Chinatown also offer these festive goods, with recipes handed down from generation to generation, and perfected over decades. Famous bak kwa brands include Lim Chee Guan, Kim Hua Guan, Bee Cheng Hiang, Fragrance , Kim Joo Guan and Hu Zhen Long. Tai Chong Kok, which has been around for some eight decades, is known for its delicious , and 69-year-old Tai Thong Cake Shop offers delicious pineapple tarts, almond cookies and love letters.

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References:  https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year  https://chinesenewyear.net/21-things-you-didnt-know-about-chinese-new-year/  https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/  https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-why-of-new- year.htm  https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-why-of-new- year.htm  https://thenewageparents.com/chinatown-chinese-new-year-celebrations/  https://thenewageparents.com/chinese-new-year-celebrations-in-chinatown/  https://www.ladyironchef.com/2016/02/chinese-new-year-auspicious-goodies/

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