Chinese New Year in Singapore – a celebration like no other

The Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore are a colourful time for the city. The festivities set out for 2010 will coincide with Valentines’ Day as well. So, those planning a visit to Singapore during the New Year season will have much to celebrate.

Known among locals as the Chun Jie Festival, the festivities carry on for about three whole weeks, and are mainly centred around the celebrations that take place at Singapore River, Hongbao, Chinatown and the Chingay parade. Aside from these venues there are other scattered events around Singapore during the New Year season.

The birthplace of all that is traditionally Chinese to Singapore is Chinatown. Chinese who migrated to Singapore saw many a beginning in Chinatown. The area also saw the first celebrations in 1985 and is still considered as the place to be to experience the best parts of the New Year celebrations. Visitors could delve into the traditional Chinese culture and experience the festive spirit for themselves first hand by strolling through the streets of this city.

The streets normally display an array of stalls serving traditional sweets and delicacies. These include waxed duck and cookies as well as little colourful ornaments. The New Year is welcomed with the countdown party where all the merrymaking goes on way past dawn and into the early hours. The traditional Chinese New Year celebrations draw to a close usually by the lunar month’s fifteenth day.

Huge figures of the God of Fortune are created at the Hongbao River. Blessings in the form of gold dust are usually sprinkled on passers-by as a means of evoking good tidings in the future, including prosperity and wealth. Those who are looking to make a wish for the New Year can make their way to the prosperity garden. Here, shows to welcome the specific animal according to the Chinese horoscope for that particular year are held with wild fireworks and dance troupes from overseas as well as local groups.

The Chingay Parade is known for its brightly decorated floats and packed crowds that dance the night away. The floats are taken in procession down the streets with musical performances to entertain the crowds. The highlight of the parade is the choreographed performances of the energetic cheerleaders. The parade usually winds up with a gala party on Orchard Road, and is an event that should not be missed.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Imlek. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Imlek parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Imlek parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

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