I’m so happy that I had a break from work for Lunar New Year. In countries that follow the Lunar calendar such as China, Vietnam, and South Korea, the festivities are extravagant and wholesome. Many of us get a whole week or two off!

Lunar New Year (LNY), or Chinese New Year (CNY), is a time for wishing good luck and for celebrating the new year. Also, to settle debts and pray for prosperity for the coming year and ask for blessings from the gods and ancestors.

In Singapore, 75% of the population is Chinese, the other 25% is made up of Indian, Malaysian, and other ethnicities. However, during the Lunar New Year, everyone takes part in the celebration with a few minor cultural differences. Singaporeans take their time during the Lunar New Year visiting friends and family. It is important to wear bright red clothing, while scarlet paper packets filled with money are given to children and younger relatives. They also take this time to offer food to their family ancestors and ask them to watch over them for the coming year. The day is filled with family reunion dinners, colorful parades, and plenty of lion dances.

I love the diversity in Singapore. There are signs in non-Chinese establishments that have sayings wishing their Chinese friends a happy and prosperous new year. The architecture of the Sri Mariamman Temple is so creative. The miniature figures built on the roof look magnificent. The Hindu temple tied a sign at the entrance saying, “Sri Mariamman Temple Wishes All Our Chinese Friends A Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year!”

The bright red color is accessorized everywhere you look and every turn you take in Chinatown. Streets in Chinatown would get quite crowded with people and many CNY decorations and souvenirs on the streets. It feels great to be surrounded by upbeat energy, everyone with similar intentions to enjoy the food and culture in Chinatown.

I easily accessed Chinatown from my Airbnb by MRT. The subway system is so organized and easy to understand. Not to mention, the subway stations are exceptionally clean and safe as well, compared to NYC’s.

When I was walking through areas like Chinatown, I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful decorations of red lanterns, blown-up zodiac animals, bright red and golden lights, and sparkly wishful banners.

American NYE is a simple night of drinking and party-going for many adults and has no auspicious meaning. The celebrations for Chinese people last for 15 days and reinforce cultural values such as family harmony, social relations, and securing good fortune for the coming year. You can expect many shops, restaurants, and businesses to be closed during the LNY.

The brightest temple that I have ever seen is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. It was actually a random find that my friend and I stumbled upon as we were checking out the last bits of the Chinatown area. We walked long enough that the sunset and we could see the lights in the dark. The Buddhist temple is so beautiful at night when the lights are on and hitting the night sky. The lights truly make the temple stand out.

After seeing all the CNY lights, we walked back to the MRT. If you would like to see what my friend and I ate while we were in Chinatown, make sure to check back on amyhangin.com. I will be talking about everything I ate in Chinatown! You will also find more stories about Singapore and other adventures on my blog.

I would recommend planning a day to explore Chinatown, check out some restaurants, and souvenir stores, and stay for the decorations at night. Make sure to find or look up parades because you don’t want to miss them! Keep in mind that some places will be closed for a few days so workers can also celebrate.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Singapore. Check out some of the bestselling deals on Klook! I loved using the Klook app to purchase tickets to some of the popular tourist attractions such as the river cruises. I would also suggest checking out the Top 10 Singapore Tours and Excursions! The views in Singapore are magnificent! It’s like being in a movie.

What do you enjoy or would like to enjoy most about the Lunar New Year in Singapore? I wish everyone good health and wealth!

Sincerely,
Amy♡