Chinese New Year is an inspiring and essential event in Singapore. People prepare their homes and celebrations weeks in advance. Singapore joyously celebrates Chinese New Year 2024. Various venues host numerous performances. But why not bring some of that fun to the workplace, too? If you’re not sure what activities to do at work, don’t worry!
When is the Chinese (or Lunar) New Year?
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is celebrated on a different date each year. Why? Because it follows the lunar calendar. After all, the moon is a capricious beast, and you can’t expect it always to follow the same course. Can you walk the same path in space? I nailed it.
It usually falls between January 21st and February 20th. The Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10th, 2024, ushering in the Year of the Wood Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. So, what’s with the Wood Dragon?
What does the Year of the Wood Dragon represent?
The dragon represents power, strength, and good fortune in the Lunar Zodiac Calendar. People born in the Year of the Dragon are known for their confidence, ambition, charisma, and strong sense of responsibility. Not only that, but they are said to be creative, intellectual, and active. That’s a lot of accolades!
But why wood? Wood, as an element, denotes growth, flexibility, plenty, kindness, charity, and high moral standards. So, if this is your year, keep up the excellent work. Even if you aren’t, the Year of the Dragon is an excellent time to start a new business or take a chance.
5 fun activities to celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore
We have some great suggestions that are easy to do and enjoyable for everyone.
1. Toss The ‘Lou Hei’ (Prosperity Salad)
Nothing screams Chinese New Year like a good toss of the Lou Hei – a customary Chinese activity involving mixing and tossing various sweet and savoury ingredients and shouting prosperity phrases for auspiciousness. Each step of the ingredient mix comes with a specific phrase meant to prosper multiple areas of one’s life, such as love, career, family and more.
It is also a great way of getting colleagues to join and soak in the festive spirit.
Things you’ll need-
• Pre-packed boxes of Lou Hei ingredients, readily available at any major supermarkets
• Disposable chopsticks
• List prosperity phrases for each step of the Lou Hei – Find them on Google!
2. Office Decorating Contests
It is customary for anyone celebrating Chinese New Year to put up bright, red decorations such as lanterns, zodiac cut-outs, placemats, and flowers to drive away bad luck. While this responsibility usually falls on the Office Manager, we should consider involving other co-workers to spruce up the environment with every individual’s creativity streak.
Employees may moan and groan about having to participate in this “silly” activity, but fret not! Turn it into a mini office competition involving incentives such as attractive prizes, and you will surely capture their attention.
3. Workplace Spring Cleaning
The New Year is the season to discard junk from every corner of one’s home. But while everyone is busy scrubbing their homes clean and throwing things out, they disregard the clutter that has secretly piled up by the workspace over the last year. We’re not talking about physical clutter but digital junk!
Encourage employees to start spring cleaning and offer incentives if you must. They may dread starting it, but that all-around cleanliness is addictive. And you can bet they’ll want to do it again, even before the next Chinese New Year.
4. Dress Your Best For Chinese New Year
As the Chinese New Year signals a new beginning on the Lunar calendar, the Chinese often buy new red clothes to celebrate the season. It is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bring great fortune—surely every business would want that for themselves. Encourage employees to come dressed in the festive colours like they do when visiting!
Remember to take some photos for your company’s social media pages and hashtag #OOTD!
5. Off-site Chinese New Year Meal
This celebration is complete with a get-together reunion meal, the most significant cultural activity of the year, apart from receiving red packets.
This meal is highly symbolic. It signifies the end of everything negative in the last year and welcomes happiness and prosperity in the one ahead. While this often occurs at home amongst family members, it can also be adopted in the workplace.
Restaurants all over Singapore offer reunion dinner menus during this time of the year, so it’s worth looking them up and bringing the workplace together for one last hearty meal.
Gong xi fa cai, everyone, and have a prosperous year ahead in your careers and life!
How do you celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore?
Enough flirting; let’s speak about the Chinese (or Lunar) New Year in Singapore and how to celebrate it!
Check out Chinatown
Surprisingly, one of the best venues to celebrate the New Year is Singapore’s Chinatown. Every year, vivid red lanterns, banners, and other colourful decorations decorate the neighbourhood, representing good fortune and wealth.
More precisely, you’ll see the Chinese New Year Light-Up. This annual festival uses over 80,000 LED lights to highlight the district. An accompanying market is also worth exploring, where you can purchase authentic street cuisine, incredible trinkets to take home, and even gifts for the locals if you want to join in on the festive fun. Oh, and did we mention the funfair with rides? Perfect for the small ones.
Attend the Chingay Parade
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is so popular in Singapore that it can be celebrated outside Chinatown. How? You can attend the Chingay Parade! It’s not just big; it’s Asia’s most prominent street performance and float procession!
The parade includes a dazzling exhibition of costumes, floats, and entertainment from several ethnic groups. You’ll watch classic lion and dragon dances and various cultural performances highlighting Singapore’s rich diversity. The procession is held on the first weekend of Chinese New Year and draws thousands of visitors worldwide.
Reunion dinner
Reunion meals are popular throughout the new year, with families living away gathering to feast on a table full of excellent traditional food. This usually happens on New Year’s Eve, so imagine it as a better version of every inevitable dismal NYE you’ve had.
And don’t worry if you don’t have family in the city; Singapore has you covered. Many restaurants offer Reunion dinner specials and menu items to celebrate. Just make sure to book ahead of time because places fill up quickly.
Another reason to book ahead is that many restaurants and even businesses will be closed at certain periods over the new year because of the holiday’s familial character. Make sure to book in advance!
Gifts and greetings
If you want to participate in the gift-giving and are comfortable approaching others, you’re in luck! Grab a red package, stuff some money inside, and get to it. These are commonly given to children, unmarried individuals, and older people as good luck symbols. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether accidentally handing one of these to married folks constitutes an insult. Also, don’t give them to random youngsters.
River Hongbao
Finally, take advantage of the River Hongbao, an annual Marina Bay Floating Platform festival. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year with traditional lantern displays, fireworks, cultural performances, and food booths!
This is how you celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore! Now that your brain is full of lovely new year knowledge, you may wonder what else to do on your trip.
Destinations to Visit
Here’s a quick list of other places to visit during Chinese New Year in Singapore.
- Sentosa Island: Have a fantastic day visiting Universal Studios Singapore, the S.E.A. Aquarium, and other attractions. However, they may be packed now, so plan your visit accordingly.
- Haji Lane: This place offers a fascinating blend of cultures. It’s a trendy district with fashionable shops, cafes, and colourful murals.
- MacRitchie Reservoir: For some peace among the festivities, take a nature walk or walk through the lush foliage at MacRitchie Reservoir.
Conclusion
In conclusion, celebrating Chinese New Year in Singapore can be a delightful and enriching experience filled with fun activities that unite people.
From traditional customs like lion dance performances and exchanging red packets to engaging in festive games and enjoying delicious conventional food, the vibrant spirit of Chinese New Year permeates the air.
These celebrations create a sense of joy and camaraderie in the community and foster a deeper appreciation for Singapore’s rich cultural heritage. So, gather your friends, colleagues, and loved ones and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere to make lasting memories during this particular time.
May the blessings of Chinese New Year bring happiness, prosperity, and good fortune to all. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
FAQ on celebration of Chinese New Year in Singapore
1. What are some popular fun activities to celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore?
Some popular fun activities to celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore include watching lion dance performances, attending street bazaars and festive markets, participating in lantern-making workshops, joining temple visits, and enjoying traditional Chinese music and dance performances.
2. Are there any special events during Chinese New Year in Singapore?
Yes, Singapore hosts a grand Chingay Parade during Chinese New Year, which showcases vibrant floats, cultural performances, and exciting displays. It is a must-see event that attracts locals and tourists alike.
3. Are any traditional games played during Chinese New Year in Singapore?
Yes, there are traditional games played during Chinese New Year in Singapore, such as “Cai Qing” (plucking greens), where participants use a long pole to reach for hung-up red packets, and “Tossing of Yu Sheng,” a lively activity where people toss and mix ingredients for prosperity and good luck.
4. Are there any family-friendly activities for children during Chinese New Year in Singapore?
Absolutely! Families can enjoy activities like crafting Chinese New Year decorations, attending storytelling sessions that share the festival’s legends and customs, participating in lion dance workshops, and watching colourful performances specially designed for children.
5. Can I experience Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore even if I’m not of Chinese descent?
Definitely! Singapore embraces its multicultural identity, and Chinese New Year celebrations are open to everyone. It’s a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, taste traditional food, witness spectacular performances, and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese community in Singapore.
