The Fifteen Days of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Singapore

Time and date: 8 February 2016

Chinese New Year provides only two-day public holiday (8-9 February 2016) for Singaporeans, still the festivities continue for fifteen days with several cultural activities. 

The beginning of the traditional Chinese new Year starts with a spring cleaning and "sending off the Kitchen God". It is believed that the Kitchen God visits the mortal world to later make a report to the Jade Emperor about it. Therefore, people try to make his visit as sweet as possible by preparing Niangao and other delicacies to him. 
Most local Chinese families kept the tradition of visiting elders, relatives and friends on the first day of the Lunar New Year. People like to go out this day with their loved ones to the Botanic Gardens, Sentosa or amusement parks like Haw Par Villa. 

Reunion Dinner:

On the eve of the Chinese New Year, families get together for a Reunion Dinner which is followed by a visit to the most popular temple in Waterloo Street the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho temple, to place their first joss sticks in the year. 
Bus stations get extremely crowded this evening when Malaysians working in Singapore visit home towards Johor. Tickets are mostly sold out far before the New Year Eve.
The traditional Lunar New Year Markets are very popular in the Chinatown and near Bugis street.

Watching Chinese Opera:

In the past, during the festival season, villages organised Chinese opera performances for 15 days long at the most crowded spots.

Lunar New Year Goodies:

-Eight Treasures Box: contains of eight auspicious food with special meaning, like sweets, peanuts, melon seeds and dates. Today these boxes are rare sights in Singapore, instead branded chocolates, special pastries, pineapple tarts, bakkwa or pork jerkies are more common.
-Red envelopes: the tradition of giving ang pao(hongbao) is still not outdated. It is mostly given by the married to unmarried, or parents to their children.

Man's Day:
7th day is the "Man's Day" on which they celebrate the birthday of every man and woman by tossing a salad of fish, turnips and other ingredients and this tradition called Lohei (Yusheng, Prosperity toss).
9th day: known to be the Birthday of the Jade Emperor is an important day for the Hokkiens.

Chingay Parade:
(Time and date: 19-20 February 2016) 

Asia's biggest street performance and float parade the Chingay is a main part of the New Year celebrations. The first parade was held on 4 February 1973.Today, local and foreign groups and organisations equally represented, adding colour and variety to the event. 

The initial aim of a boisterous parade was to replace the custom of lighting firecrackers during this time. The government banned burning of firecrackers in 1974, but till 2004. a special permit was given to burn 88 rows of firecrackers in Chinatown as part of the celebration to usher to the Lunar New Year. 

River Hongbao:
(Time and date: 6-14 February 2016)
The carnival is celebrated since 1987 in Singapore, and takes place at the Float at Marina Bay. The mix of cultural activities, shows, lantern display and food markets make a truly iconic event of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore.

Chinatown Street Light-up:

The theme of the lights changing every year according to the Chinese zodiac. This year is the Year of the Monkey.
The official opening and light up ceremony take place on 16 January 2016 from 6 pm to 10 pm at New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street. The lights are up till 8 March 2016.

And most importantly, don't forget to wish Happy Lunar New Year to your friends!

                                                          Gong Xi Fa Cai!! :)

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