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1.Nian eng.year

2.eat humans and animals

3.Red things like firecrackers

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1.Is a family dinner

2.We have  abalone soup, chicken, mushrooms, duck, fish, chap chye ("mixed vegetables"), roast pork and steamboat.

3.Before CNY

4.To sweep away evilness

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1. people celebrate CNY on 8 and 9 February

2. The celebration last for 12 days

3. The people visit their relatives home.

4.Chinatown
5. The river Hongbao

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1.can not cut hair and nail.

2.niangao and (paper-thin sweet crisp egg-rolls.

3. joy,virtue,truth and sincerity.

4. a new beginning for a brand new year.

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1. What was the name of the monster that everyone was afraid of?

2. What would the monster do on the first day of new year? 3. What was the monster afraid of?

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1. What are two of the CNY superstitions? 2. Name 2 food that the Chinese usually eat during CNY and what they symbolise.

3. Red is believed to symbolise: 1 4. Why do the Chinese wear new clothings during CNY?

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1. When do the Chinese celebrate CNY?

2. How long does the celebration last? 3. What do the Chinese usually do on the first day of CNY?

4. Name 2 places that SIngaporeans can go during CNY

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1. What is a reunion dinner? 2. When do we have our reunion dinner? 3. When is spring cleaning done? 4. Why is spring cleaning done?

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Adapted from a Korean version of the Nian story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bGZmgv2Byc Overdubbed in English by Matt Lovett.

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Chingay Parade, River Hong Bao, Huayi-Chinese Festival of Arts are just part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, not forgetting the annual New Year Light-Up in Chinatown.

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is of utmost importance to the Chinese culture all over the world, and Singapore is no exception.

This festive occasion marks the New Year on the Chinese lunar calendar, starting anytime from late January to late February every year, and lasting for a stretch of 15 days with the first two days declared as Public Holidays.

Chinese custom decrees that all debts from the past year be cleared, with homes spring-cleaned and new clothing to replace the old - in other words, a brand new start. Chinese New Year is also a time for families to get together and reaffirm ties at the family reunion dinner that traditionally takes place on the eve.

Myth & Legend

Legend has it that Lunar New Year started back in ancient days, when a mythical beast known as 'Nien', would linger around villages on the first day on the New Year to prey on livestock and devour crops, the villagers and even the little children.

At first, the villagers believed that in order to protect themselves, all they had to do was to place food at their door fronts at the beginning of every year. They later learned that Nien feared the colour red. Since then, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring couplets on their windows and doors, and use red firecrackers to scare away the Nien.

Today, though people no longer believe that Nien is still in existence, the tradition and practices have been brought on from generation to generation in Chinese societies all over the world.

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Singapore

In Singapore, there are other celebrations that are held in accordance with Chinese New Year: the Chingay Parade, River Hong Bao and the Huayi - Chinese Festival of Arts.

If you are keen on the celebrations, you might want to take a trip down to catch the annually celebrated Chingay Parade, which usually takes place along the Marina Bay to usher in the Lunar New Year. While the parade once focused on the true meaning of Lunar New Year with floats such as the Chinese Zodiac animals and the Chinese God of Fortune, it has now evolved into a multi-cultural and international event with performing acts like samba dancers and modern-day magicians.

Apart from the Chingay Parade, you might like to check out the 10-day long Chinese Festival of Arts - Huayi, at the Esplanade Singapore. This event is specially organized for those who appreciate traditional and contemporary Chinese arts and culture. Be intrigued by the stellar line- up of song and dance.

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Chinatown

To be part of this Chinese festival in Singapore, Chinatown is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere where street after street is lighted up and jammed packed with people jostling for Chinese New Year food.

Lunar New Year Celebrations in Chinatown(02:22)

Especially for the Lunar New Year festivities, for the month prior to till the end of the celebrations, the crowded streets of Chinatown will be lined with bright red lanterns, banners and street vendors selling a variety of traditional festive goodies and delicacies such as barbecued meats, preserved sausages and waxed duck.

Shopping in Chinatown

If you are lucky, you might just be able to catch lion dancers throng the streets while making deafening noises, which are traditionally symbolical of keeping evil mythical creatures at bay.

Visit Chinatown festivals website for all the following events and activities in Chinatown:

1. Chinatown Chinese New Year Countdown Party

2. Festive Street Bazaar and Festive Carnival

3. Nightly Stage Shows

4. International Lion Dance Competition and many more.

Lunar New Year Symbolisms

If you hang around during the Lunar New Year season long enough, you would have noticed that red is the predominant colour used for the celebrations. The colour red is believed by the Chinese to resemble joy, virtue, truth and sincerity.

Traditionally, Chinese costumes worn during the Lunar New Year were often red as well. As depicted in the ancient Chinese legend, red was used to frighten away the beast 'Nien'. With this in mind, the Chinese wore red to scare away evil spirits and bad luck.

On top of that, the Chinese folks typically wear new clothing from head to toe symbolizing a new beginning for a brand new year. Another feature of Lunar New Year, more so in old-Singapore, is the use of firecrackers, which have now been banned due to their hazardous explosions. These firecrackers explode with loud crackling noises when ignited - so deafening that they are thought by the Chinese to keep evil spirits away.

When it comes to the decorations, red couplets with phrases to signify abundance, happiness and longevity are displayed at the main door. Also, red lanterns are hanged at storefronts and homes to symbolize auspiciousness, and pots of kumquats and flower are place around the home to brighten up the house, as a sign of luck and joy.

Chinese New Year Food

Chinese New Year food are usually offered to visitors to wish them a prosperous New Year ahead. Common and traditional ones include bak kwa (thinly sliced fragrant barbecued pork), prawn rolls (a paste of dried prawns rolled in thin wraps and deep fried till very crisp), love letters (paper-thin sweet crisp egg-rolls), pineapple tarts (thick pineapple jam served on bite-sized crumbly pastry), kueh baulu (small sponge cakes that are slightly crisp on the outside and spongy soft on the inside), kueh bangkit (white powdery biscuits that melt in your mouth), groundnuts to symbolize good health and longevity, candy to symbolize a sweet year ahead and chocolates wrapped to look like gold coins to symbolize wealth and prosperity.

Lunar New Year Superstitions

When it comes to superstitions, the Chinese know best. They take these beliefs so seriously; it could literally mean life or death to them. Here are just a few of the superstitions revolving around Lunar New Year:

Watch what you say - One should refrain from using 'unlucky' words like 'die' or 'bad luck'. The Chinese also warn that if children were to quarrel and be beaten by their elders, they might end up more rebellious and boisterous throughout the year.

No sweeping - The Chinese usually sweep their homes before the Lunar New Year. They believe that sweeping on New Year's Day itself is as good as sweeping luck out of the house.

Avoid black - Wearing black is taboo as it is associated with death. Wear the auspicious red instead.

Be extra careful - Take precaution when handling fragile items. Breaking anything would mean a broken family or even a death in the family.

Chinese New Year Rituals

Behind the commercial hype of Chinese New Year are the religious rituals practiced by the traditional Chinese. You will find them heading to Chinese temples where they can present offerings of meats and fruits, and prayers to their gods.

Days before Lunar New Year arrives, families do a thorough spring-cleaning of their homes to sweep away any bad luck and to make way for a clean new start to a new year. It is also practiced, till this very day, the gathering of the entire family on New Year's Eve for the family reunion dinner where members of the family are able to come together to reaffirm their love and build stronger relationship ties.

In ancestral worship, Chinese families pay respect to their ancestors with the offering of food, fruits and flowers. Their act of offerings and prayers are not only a form of respect but also their way of welcoming their ancestors to join in the reunion dinner celebrations.

House visitations are also common practices during the Chinese New Year. Most people will bring along with them a pair of mandarin oranges during the visits to their older relatives or even to their friends as a symbol of good fortune.

You might have also heard of the red packet, which the Chinese literally translate to as Hong Bao, containing money in them. Married couples usually give these out to their own children and to children who visit them, as a sign on prosperity and good luck.

Chinese New Year Tips for Tourists

Chinese New Year alone is one festival in Singapore that has so much to offer to tourists. From the festivities on its own to the Chingay Parade, River Hong Bao and the Huayi Festival at the Esplanade Singapore, you can be certain that you'll be kept in awe all the way.

You may wonder when's the coming Chinese New Year dates fall on? Check out the Public Holidays in Singapore and plan your vacation to Singapore to coincide with the coming Lunar New Year.

Festivals in Singapore
Singapore Festivals and Events Calendar
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Traditional Festivals in Singapore
Thaipusam Festival

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Chinese New Year Celebrations in Singapore

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Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is of utmost importance to the Chinese culture all over the world, and Singapore is no exception. This festive occasion marks the New Year on the Chinese lunar calendar, starting anytime from late January to late February every year, and lasting for a stretch of 15 days with the first two days declared as Public Holidays.

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Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is undoubtedly the most important event in the Chinese calendar.

Starting from weeks prior to the start of Chinese New Year, head down to Chinatown for the Street Light-Up which will see the streets lined with beautifully-designed lanterns. You will also be able to soak in the festive mood throughout the island with celebrations in the form of colourful processions, seasonal markets and lively lion dances.

Above it all, the excited chatter and laughter of people meeting up, exchanging of mandarin oranges for good luck and feasting on special dishes, is an experience not to be missed.

Get lucky

Red is undoubtedly the colour of the season. You'll see it in the scarlet paper packets filled with money that are given to children and younger relatives. You'll see it in the bright hues of the brand new clothes people are wearing.

Most of all, you'll see it in homes all over Singapore, thoroughly spring-cleaned and decorated with touches of crimson everywhere-in the lanterns hung by the gates, in the spring couplets adorning doorways and in the bright ribbons adorning kumquat plants, their yellow fruit symbolising 'gold' or prosperity.

Feasting with family

The heart of Chinese New Year is ultimately a celebration of home and family, hence gatherings with family and relatives around the dining table are de rigueur.

And nowhere is this seen more clearly than in the tradition of Reunion Dinner, held on the eve of the new year. Family members rush back home (sometimes from very far away) in order to share this one most important meal of the year with loved ones.

The following days are then spent visiting relatives and friends, conveying blessings of good fortune for the year ahead and enjoying time with the ones who matter most.

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Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is undoubtedly the most important event in the Chinese calendar. Starting from weeks prior to the start of Chinese New Year, head down to Chinatown for the Street Light-Up which will see the streets lined with beautifully-designed lanterns.

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Chinese New Year is celebrated by most Chinese in Singapore. The first day of the lunar new year usually falls between the winter solstice ( Prior to the New Year, homes are usually swept and bamboo leaves are traditionally used to sweep the floor as it is believed that this would drive evil spirits out. It is customary not to sweep, mop, scrub or wash on the first day of the Lunar New Year lest the good luck be swept away, with some even hiding their brooms. The family reunion dinner and ancestor worship are the two of the most important highlights of the celebrations on , the eve of the new year. The Lunar New Year is traditionally ushered in at 11 pm, but many families, especially in Singapore, have adopted 12 am as the norm. Before the reunion dinner, it is customary for families to worship their ancestors and invite them to join in the family's celebrations with an offering of food, fruits, tea and flowers. The reunion dinner ( Family members are expected return to the family home for this dinner. The more traditional Chinese families "invite" their deceased ancestors by placing offerings on the family altar. For this gathering, food is served in abundance regardless whether the family is rich or poor as the Chinese believe that having plenty of food during Some families also cook abalone soup, chicken, mushrooms, duck, fish, mixed vegetables ( Chinese New Year's eve is one of three days in the Chinese lunar calendar for settling debts, particularly for businessmen. This day is set aside for this purpose as it is considered shameful for one to start a new year with unpaid debts. The other two days for settling debts are the fifth day of the fifth lunar month ( Children are encouraged to stay awake past midnight to send off the "old" year and welcome the "new". Many children also do this to convey their new year wishes to their parents early in the morning. Some Chinese believe that the longer the children stay awake, the longer their lives or the lives of their parents. In return, the young ones get a - traditional red packets containing money - before going to bed. The first day of the New Year is known as The first of 15 days of the Lunar New Year are set aside for visiting, with close and senior family members visited on the first day. Oranges are exchanged during visits as tokens of good fortune and prosperity, success and vigour in the coming year. Known as Known as the "Loyal Dog Day", the third day is a day of rest. No visits are made nor are visitors received, as it is believed that evil spirits roam the earth this day and being outdoors would invite bad luck. Thus, conservative Chinese businesses do not open until after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. The seventh day is The birthday of the Jade Emperor falls on the ninth day of the first lunar month. The Jade Emperor is believed to be the God of Heaven and is said to have been born several millennia before the current era. The people of Quanzhou, China, observe the ninth day as the birthday of Heaven, while the people of Amoy observe the same day as the birthday of the Jade Emperor. The 15th day marks the first full moon of the new year. It is known as Since 1984, the Holy Family Church (Roman Catholic) in Katong has been celebrating a unique In recent years, some Singaporeans have adopted the trend of depositing cash into their own bank accounts on the auspicious day of . Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH), p. 40. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH), p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH), p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH), p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH), p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG., p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Asiapac, p. 58. (Call no.: RSING 398.20931 ORI). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, p. 3. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, pp. 3-4. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Asiapac, p. 62. (Call no.: RSING 398.20931 ORI), p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Singapore: Asiapac, p. 63. (Call no.: RSING 398.20931 ORI). Kuala Lumpur: Heinemann Asia, p. 4. (Call no.: RSING 398.33 LAI-[CUS]). Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, pp. 3-5. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH). Singapore: Jack Chia-MPH, pp. 65-66. (Call no.: RSING q398.33 WON), 3, 5. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH), p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. p. 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. p.6. Retrieved from NewspaperSG., p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG., p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.. Retrieved 2018, January 24 from Visit Singapore website: http://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/annual-highlights/river-hongbao dongzhi) and spring's beginning ( lichun). This typically falls between 21 January and 20 February each year. ¹ One month before Chinese New Year On the 24th day of the 12th month of the Chinese lunar calendar is xiaoguonian (little new year), which marks the beginning of the new year festivities. It is believed that, on this day, household deities report to Yu Huang (Jade Emperor), the supreme ruler of heaven and earth. Special food offerings such as sweet cakes, candied fruits and sweet rice dishes are provided for the Hearth God or Kitchen God ( zaojun or ⁵ Pots of kumquat and flowers are also put up as part of the festive decorations to brighten up the home. Red scrolls and posters with auspicious sayings ( chunlian, or spring couplets) are placed at the doorway. To usher in the new year, the Chinese wear new clothes and sometimes sport fresh hairdos. Chinese New Year's eve ⁶ ⁷ zaowang) in the hope that he would put in a good word for the family to the Jade Emperor. Sometimes, honey or rock sugar is placed on the mouth of the Kitchen God's statue. Firecrackers are then lit to bid farewell to the deities and spring cleaning begins. ⁸ ² In Singapore, however, firecrackers have been banned since June 1972 for public safety reasons when the government introduced the Dangerous Fireworks Act, ³ but some Singaporeans go to neighbouring Malaysia to set some firecrackers off. tuan'nianfan) is an annual feast where family members reaffirm the love and respect that bind them together as a unit. It is also known as tuanyuan (or weilu) meaning "gathering around the family hearth". This event is of sociological significance as it is a means to ensure the solidarity of the family and its cohesiveness. ¹⁰ As convention dictates, all sons return to their parental homes for the occasion. Married daughters, on the other hand, join their husbands' families for reunion dinner on chuxi. ¹¹ tuanyuan would bring the family great material wealth in the new year. Tuanyuan delicacies include dried sea moss ( facai), red dates, dried flaked bean ( chapchye), roast pork and steamboat. ¹³ Other traditional food items stocked up for the Lunar New Year (but not necessarily eaten during the reunion dinner itself) include red preserved waxed pork sausages ( lachang), waxed duck ( Dragon Boat Festival) and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month ( Mid-Autumn Festival). After closing accounts for the year, traditional Chinese bosses may hand out bonuses to their workers. ¹⁵ ¹⁶ laya) and waxed lean pork in thick oil ( larou), melon seeds ( Welcoming the God of Wealth
Some Chinese offer joss sticks to welcome the God of Wealth, while others usher in the new year by praying at temples. They consult the almanac for the most favourable hour and direction to receive this deity, usually between 11.00 pm and 6.00 am the next morning. ¹⁷ The lights are switched on and the doors and windows unlocked so as to welcome good fortune and prosperity.18 guazi), glutinous rice cake ( First day (New Year's Day) niangao), yuandan (also yuanri, yuanchen and duanri). ²¹ ¹⁹ The children pay their respects to their parents and elders, and in return, receive their blessings. Hongbao are given by parents to their children, as well as elders to those who are unmarried and younger than them. Other relatives and visitors also give Second day hongbao to any child present. thoe ya, the God of Wealth is welcomed through the display of auspicious pictures to "attract wealth and draw in treasures" during this period. ²² This and the 16th day (known as weiya) are the best "feast" days for employees. To employees, the Third day weiya feast is not only a sumptuous meal, but also a bonus for their hard work during the year. Besides being a reward for a year's work, the bonuses are to make workers happy, as grim faces are a taboo during the festival. The second day is also traditionally a time for married women to visit their maiden homes and renew ties with their families. ²⁴ ²³ ²⁰ Seventh day mandarin oranges ( renri or yan-yat ²⁵ (meaning "birthday of man", "day of man", "day of humanity" or "everyman's birthday"). Customs in celebrating the seventh day vary from place to place. The people from Fujian, China prepare a special soup with seven health-promoting ingredients to counteract ill health, while those in Zhejiang, China eat "peace dumplings" to bring peace to the country. In Singapore and Malaysia, (a dish with raw fish and a salad that includes shredded carrots, radish, ginger, spring onions, red chilli, lemon leaves, pickled leeks, crispy fried biscuits, pounded peanuts, lime, cinnamon powder, salt, pepper and vinegar) is served. Ninth day ²⁶ ²⁷ gan), and kumquats ( ganju). Fifteenth day ¹⁴ yuanxiaojie, meaning "first night of the full moon" ( Hokkiens call it chap goh mei, meaning 15th night). Chinese New Year events and trends in Singapore
Lion danceAnother Chinese New Year tradition is the lion dance, which commemorates a legend where villagers in China donned a costume made of cloth and straw to scare away a monster called nian. The lion, typically portrayed by members of local pugilistic associations, would perform ritualised dances to pluck a green vegetable ( caiqing) to re-enact how nian ate all the crops. In Singapore, many lion dance troupes use the Singapore drum to accompany the performance - the Singapore drum has softer resonance than traditional ones. Peranakan midnight mass on Chinese New Year's eve conducted entirely in Baba Malay. The congregation dress in sarong kebaya for the women and li chun (which marks the start of spring in the Chinese calendar). They believe that this will boost one's wealth and ensure good luck. Some wear auspicious colours and prepare a particular amount of money to deposit for extra luck. ³⁵

AuthorBonny Tan baju lok chuan for the men. After the mass, oranges blessed by the priest are given out. ³² In 1990, several leaders of churches of other denominations in Singapore clarified that Christians could take part in most Chinese festivals, including Chinese New Year. ³³The River Hong Bao has been on Singapore's festive calendar every year since 1987. The River Hong Bao features giant handcrafted lanterns featuring characters from Chinese myth and legend such as the God of Wealth and animals of the Chinese Zodiac. There are also fringe activities such as amusement rides and street performances. ³⁴ References
³⁰ In pre-war Singapore, it was common for these lions to perform a feat that required them to scale "human towers" to pluck the greens from a 100-foot-high window of a six or seven-storey building. ³¹
²⁸ Another reunion dinner is held with lanterns and oranges being a large part of the celebrations. It is also referred to as dengjie or "lantern festival" as a tradition that originated during the Tang Dynasty involving the lighting of lanterns on this day. Chap goh mei is also a day when single ladies wishing for husbands throw oranges, red dates and longans into the Singapore River.
²⁹ fuzhu), dried black jelly fungus ( mu'er), gingko nuts ( baiguo), transparent rice vermicelli (
dongfen), dried mushrooms picked in winter ( xianggu or donggu) and dried pickled vegetables ( jinzhen).
¹² ⁹ ⁴

Lunar New Year mass in Baba Malay

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The Singapore heritage. Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Culture, pp. 3-4. (Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SH) ; Customs on Lunar New Year's Eve. (1990, January 26).
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Customs on Lunar New Year's eve. (1990, January 26). The Straits Times, p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Chinese New Year. (1984, February). The Singapore heritage18. Chinese New Year. (1984, February). The Singapore heritage19. Goh, P. K. (Ed.). (1997).
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An illustrated cycle of Chinese festivities in Malaysia and Singapore28. Chinese New Year. (1984, February). The Singapore Heritage29. Licensed to chase men. (1979, February 11). New Nation30.
Dances of joy and jubilation. (1986, February 2). The Straits Times,31.
Lion dance has a long history. (1947, December 28). The Straits Times,32. Reunion and mass for Peranakans. (1985, February 9). The Straits Times, p. 13; Lunar New Year Mass in Baba Malay. (1989, February 3). The New Paper, p. 10; Christians 'can take part in most Chinese festivals'. (1990, January 27). The Straits Times33. Christians 'can take part in most Chinese festivals'. (1990, January 27). The Straits Times34. Singapore Tourism Board. River Hongbao35. Singapore Press Holdings. (2015, February 4). Mad rush to deposit money on auspicious Li Chun day; Singapore Press Holdings. (2016, February 5). Queues to deposit cash on auspicious day of Li Chun. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva via NLB's eResources website: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/

The information in this article is valid as at 2000 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Singapore--Social life and customs
Chinese New Year--Singapore
Ethnic festivals
People and communities>>Customs>>Festivities
ethnic festivals--Singapore
Ethnic Communities>>Festivals and Celebrations

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Chinese New Year is celebrated by most Chinese in Singapore. The first day of the lunar new year usually falls between the winter solstice (dongzhi) and spring's beginning (lichun). This typically falls between 21 January and 20 February each year.