Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, or ‘New Year’ as it appears in official calendars is celebrated with great splendour throughout many Asian countries every year, during January or February. In Singapore it’s a National Holiday – which means a non-working day.
New Year is a family holiday, and many people will be preparing for the traditional festivities for several weeks or months beforehand. Family members will gather together to celebrate the opening of the new Lunar year, wishing each other success, good luck and prosperity. The red colour, which is predominantly used in the decorations over the New Year holidays symbolises joy, virtue and sincerity.
There is a tradition of giving small gifts to each other at New Year. Holiday-season markets open up on all the streets of the Chinese Quarter. There are dozens of kiosks, selling fruit, sweets, and souvenirs.
The beautiful light decorations are typical attraction of the festival.
During the New Year holidays, the embankments of Marina Bay play host to a beautiful festival called River Hongbao. This name ‘Hongbao’ refers to the red envelope or package in which gifts of money are given – meaning a wish for success from the giver. There are holiday concerts, firework displays, and public celebrations for several days in a row.
Professional performers from Singapore appear on stage, alongside guest performers from other countries – while a chorus of several hundred voices performs songs to the accompaniment of guitars, or other musical instruments.
The real highlight of the program, without a shadow of a doubt, are the groups of tightrope walkers. The tightrope is fixed at a great height. Thousands of people hold their breath while watching the performers do their dangerous routines.
People are often celebrating on the streets of the Chinese Quarter until dawn.