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Chinese New Year customs in Singapore

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dancers. In Singapore, the troupe performs the lion dance to snap off a sprig of lettuce and a red packet. More challenging tasks such as peeling open a pomelo and pinning down a crab are other examples that lion dancers perform. In recent times, many lion dance troupes use the Singapore drum instead of the traditional version as it has a softer resonance. Lion dancing troupes are traditionally made up of young boys but girls have been learning the art more recently too.
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as it sweeps away good luck. Similarly, it is believed that hair should not be cut during the new year as any good luck would be snipped away. During this time, houses are also decorated with flower pots and red decorations such as scrolls and posters with auspicious phrases are put up at the main doorway. Those who celebrate also wear new clothes to usher in the new year, representing a fresh start.
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On the night before the new year, children are urged to stay awake past midnight. This not only serves as bidding the previous year farewell and welcoming the new year, but it is also believed to bring longevity to parents. The longer the children stay awake, the longer the lives of their parents. At
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Before the new year, homes are traditionally swept clean using bamboo leaves, a ritual believed to chase evil spirits, along with any bad luck or energy from the previous year, out of homes. It is customary not to clean by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or washing on the first day of Chinese New Year
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The lo hei practice involves a group of people gathered around the dining table, adding each ingredient in a specific order while auspicious sayings are recited. Each ingredient symbolizes something special or auspicious. Using chopsticks, the diners toss the ingredients while delivering auspicious
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The dance features 2 lion dancers, one in charge of controlling the lion's head while the other acts as its hind legs. The performance typically consists of the skillful coordination between the 2 lion dancers to mimic the lion's movements and acrobatic stances, and musicians to accompany the lion
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Before visits commence, children greet and pay their respects to their parents and elder relatives. At this time, red packets are usually given to children. On the first day, close and senior family members, such as parents or grandparents, are visited. Traditionally, the second day is for married
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are typically given by married adults to those who are unmarried, younger siblings and cousins, and other relatives in the younger generation. In many cases, parents are also gifted these red packets. The money packed into the red packet should be an even number, with 8 being the most auspicious
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Food served at reunion dinners are usually in abundance as it is believed to bring great wealth in the new year. Traditional delicacies served during the reunion dinner include red dates, dried sea moss, ginkgo nuts, dried flaked bean, dried wood ear mushrooms, rice vermicelli, and dried pickled
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is held on the eve of Chinese New Year. Family members travel home to share a meal with their loved ones. Some traditional Chinese families may also invite their late ancestors to join in on the reunion dinner by providing offerings at the family altar. Sons are to return to their homes, while
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In Chinatown area, the main attraction of lighted wire frame sculptures is established in the intersection of New Bridge road and Upper Cross street. The theme and the models are created every year according to the zodiac symbol of the year. The area of different wire frame models and lighting
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performance can be dated back over 1,500 years. Usually performed during auspicious occasions such as the opening of a new business, the lion dance is also performed during Chinese New Year. Its significance in the new year is associated with scaring away the legend of
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Ancestor worship occurs on the eve of Chinese New Year before the family reunion dinner. Families worship their ancestors by offering joss sticks, prayers, and food offerings to invite their late family members to join the new year celebrations.
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In Chinese culture, red is the colour that represents success and celebration. The auspicious colour is believed to ward off any evil spirits and negative energy. This idea originated from the story of folk legend and mythical beast,
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would also be lit to send off the deities before beginning spring cleaning. However, since the introduction of the Dangerous Fireworks Act, the use of firecrackers has been banned in Singapore.
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sayings and their wishes for the upcoming new year until all ingredients are mixed. It is believed that the higher the toss, the greater one's fortune and prospects for the year.
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people, red packets are given in pairs to close relatives following the tradition that good things come in pairs. The total amount of money gifted should also be an even number.
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is celebrated on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, marking the start of the new year celebration. It is believed that household deities report to the
204:(拜年), translating to "pay a visit", it refers to the act of visiting and greeting relatives and friends. Visits to homes usually go hand in hand with exchanging a pair of 30:, or members of the Chinese diaspora located there, who make up over 75% of Singapore's population. The holiday is the start of a new year based on the traditional 240:
Before receiving a red packet, it is customary for the recipient to say auspicious greetings such as 'Happy new year and a prosperous new year' to the giver
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The red packets should also only be opened at home or in private, for it is considered rude to open them in the presence of the giver. For
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the end of the night, children receive a red packet from their parents before going to bed. This red packet is often referred to as
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married daughters are to join their husbands' families for the reunion dinner on new year's eve.
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decoration spans between the New Bridge road and South Bridge road, the surrounding of the
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Since 1972, an annual street parade was held as part of the Chinese New Year festivities.
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number. Odd numbers are usually associated with giving condolence money at funerals.
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Visiting occurs during the first 15 days of Chinese New Year. Colloquially known as
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Lin, Melissa (26 January 2016). "Expect to Get $ 8 to $ 10 per Hongbao".
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Wire frame dragon in front of the Peoples Park Complex at night time
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Tan, S. E. (16 February 1999). "A lion roars to life in a dance".
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Wire frame dragon in front of the Peoples Park Complex at day time
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A family engages in Lo Hei by tossing the ingredients of
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Vasu, Suchitthra; Singapore, National Library Board.
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Vasu, Suchitthra; Singapore, National Library Board.
428:"11 public holidays shows work ethic here is strong" 737:"The cultural significance of mandarin oranges" 547:Bonny, Tan; Singapore, National Library Board. 403:"Beijing tapping into Singapore's Chinese-ness" 452:"Category:Chinese New Year 2024 in Singapore" 8: 653:"Chinese New Year, Year of the Dragon 2024" 328:Chingay parade § Chingay in Singapore 272:Lo hei refers to the communal tossing of 436:. 2 January 1994. p. 3 – via 549:"Chinese New Year customs in Singapore" 341: 82:being another hot spot for the models. 956:Chingay : Singapore on parade = 880:"The Monster Behind Chinese New Year" 858: 856: 829: 827: 774: 772: 679: 677: 675: 673: 622: 620: 7: 709:Ranowsky, Amanda (5 February 2021). 542: 540: 538: 536: 534: 532: 530: 528: 526: 473: 471: 469: 212:women to visit their maiden homes. 14: 735:Chow, Serene (24 February 2020). 349:Wei, Clarissa (21 January 2022). 577:. Petaling Jaya: Pelanduk Publ. 375:Woon, Walter (5 December 2023). 118:, or Festival of the Kitchen God 504:Chan, Audrey (1 January 2024). 878:Liu, Hatty (5 February 2021). 228:or 红包 with auspicious sayings. 1: 478:Ewe, Koh (9 February 2021). 178:Chinese New Year's eve vigil 51:public holidays in Singapore 985:Chinese-Singaporean culture 401:Ng, Samuel (1 April 2023). 295:performance at a temple in 26:is celebrated primarily by 1006: 325: 177: 80:Buddha Tooth Relic Temple 510:South China Morning Post 573:Leong, Gregory (1992). 657:www.visitsingapore.com 300: 264: 229: 147:Chinese New Year's eve 74: 66: 575:Festivals of Malaysia 291: 258: 232:During the new year, 223: 165:The tradition of the 72: 64: 960:People's Association 884:The World of Chinese 835:"Yusheng and Lo hei" 106:Pre-Chinese New Year 28:Chinese Singaporeans 962:. 2007. p. 28. 454:. Wikimedia Commons 146: 632:Discover Hong Kong 355:The New York Times 301: 265: 230: 75: 67: 865:The Straits Times 786:. 11 January 2024 584:978-967-978-388-9 433:The Straits Times 997: 980:Chinese New Year 964: 963: 952: 946: 945: 943: 941: 927: 921: 920: 918: 916: 901: 895: 894: 892: 890: 875: 869: 868: 860: 851: 850: 848: 846: 839:www.roots.gov.sg 831: 822: 821: 819: 817: 812:. 9 January 2019 802: 796: 795: 793: 791: 784:www.roots.gov.sg 776: 767: 766: 758: 752: 751: 749: 747: 732: 726: 725: 723: 721: 706: 700: 699: 697: 695: 685:"Hongbao giving" 681: 668: 667: 665: 663: 649: 643: 642: 640: 638: 624: 615: 614: 612: 610: 595: 589: 588: 570: 564: 563: 561: 559: 544: 521: 520: 518: 516: 501: 495: 494: 492: 490: 475: 464: 463: 461: 459: 448: 442: 441: 424: 418: 417: 415: 413: 398: 392: 391: 389: 387: 372: 366: 365: 363: 361: 346: 206:Mandarin oranges 191:Chinese New Year 152:Ancestor worship 35:Chinese calendar 24:Chinese New Year 1005: 1004: 1000: 999: 998: 996: 995: 994: 970: 969: 968: 967: 954: 953: 949: 939: 937: 929: 928: 924: 914: 912: 903: 902: 898: 888: 886: 877: 876: 872: 862: 861: 854: 844: 842: 833: 832: 825: 815: 813: 804: 803: 799: 789: 787: 778: 777: 770: 760: 759: 755: 745: 743: 734: 733: 729: 719: 717: 708: 707: 703: 693: 691: 683: 682: 671: 661: 659: 651: 650: 646: 636: 634: 626: 625: 618: 608: 606: 597: 596: 592: 585: 572: 571: 567: 557: 555: 546: 545: 524: 514: 512: 503: 502: 498: 488: 486: 477: 476: 467: 457: 455: 450: 449: 445: 426: 425: 421: 411: 409: 400: 399: 395: 385: 383: 381:thediplomat.com 374: 373: 369: 359: 357: 348: 347: 343: 338: 330: 324: 286: 270: 218: 198: 193: 180: 163: 154: 149: 140: 138:Spring cleaning 116:Little New Year 113: 111:Little new year 108: 93: 88: 59: 12: 11: 5: 1003: 1001: 993: 992: 987: 982: 972: 971: 966: 965: 947: 922: 910:www.nlb.gov.sg 896: 870: 852: 823: 797: 768: 753: 727: 715:Goodwin Living 701: 689:www.nlb.gov.sg 669: 644: 616: 604:www.nlb.gov.sg 600:"Firecrackers" 590: 583: 565: 553:www.nlb.gov.sg 522: 496: 465: 443: 419: 393: 367: 340: 339: 337: 334: 326:Main article: 323: 322:Chingay parade 320: 285: 282: 269: 266: 217: 214: 197: 194: 192: 189: 179: 176: 167:reunion dinner 162: 161:Reunion dinner 159: 153: 150: 148: 145: 139: 136: 112: 109: 107: 104: 92: 89: 87: 84: 58: 55: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1002: 991: 988: 986: 983: 981: 978: 977: 975: 961: 957: 951: 948: 936: 935:mothership.sg 932: 926: 923: 911: 907: 900: 897: 885: 881: 874: 871: 866: 859: 857: 853: 841:. 18 May 2022 840: 836: 830: 828: 824: 811: 807: 801: 798: 785: 781: 775: 773: 769: 764: 757: 754: 742: 738: 731: 728: 716: 712: 705: 702: 690: 686: 680: 678: 676: 674: 670: 658: 654: 648: 645: 633: 629: 623: 621: 617: 605: 601: 594: 591: 586: 580: 576: 569: 566: 554: 550: 543: 541: 539: 537: 535: 533: 531: 529: 527: 523: 511: 507: 500: 497: 485: 481: 474: 472: 470: 466: 453: 447: 444: 439: 435: 434: 429: 423: 420: 408: 404: 397: 394: 382: 378: 371: 368: 356: 352: 345: 342: 335: 333: 329: 321: 319: 315: 313: 312: 306: 298: 294: 290: 283: 281: 277: 275: 267: 262: 257: 253: 251: 247: 243: 238: 235: 227: 226:red envelopes 222: 215: 213: 209: 207: 203: 195: 190: 188: 186: 175: 171: 168: 160: 158: 151: 144: 137: 135: 133: 129: 125: 121: 117: 110: 105: 103: 101: 100: 90: 85: 83: 81: 71: 63: 56: 54: 52: 48: 47:greater China 45:. 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Index

Singapore
Chinese New Year
Chinese Singaporeans
lunisolar
Chinese calendar
Guangdong
Fujian
greater China
public holidays in Singapore


Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Nian
Little New Year
Jade Emperor
Kitchen God
firecrackers
reunion dinner
Mandarin oranges

red envelopes
red packets
Cantonese
Hokkien

Yusheng
yusheng

Lion dance
Singapore

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