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Singapore Chinese New Year 2009 |
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Chinese New yea5r is of vital importance in the cultural tradition of China. The occasion is also called as the Lunar New Year by some people outside China. Traditionally the festival begins the first day of the first Lunar month of the Chinese Calender. The occasion is celebrated by people of
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| Chinese origin all over the world with great spirit and enthusiasm. Chinese New year is a major holiday for the Chinese. Both in China and other countries with major Chinese influence such as Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Japanese Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand with significant Chinese population. The event has a strong historical backing that goes back to the period of Qin Dynasty. According to Chinese legends and tales, the beginning of the Chinese New Years started with the fight against Nian, a mythical beast.
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The legend tells a story to support the cause. The beast used to come to the village and devor the villagers. The poor villagers asked for help of a great lion. The great lion came and fought with the mythical beast and drove it out of the village. The next year as the great lion was in charge of the protection of the Emperor's palace, the villagers were defenseless. So they create a statue that resembled the dragon in bamboo and cloth. The statue was sufficient to scare and drive the beast, Nian away. This is why Chinese today also prepare traditional lion spirit costumes as an important symbol of the occasion.
As Singapore is a place largely influenced by the tradition and culture of China and Chinese people, throughout the country, The Chinese New Year holds a special significance in Singapore. Everybody celebrate the occasion together and pay for the goodwill and safety of other people. During the celebration, Chinatown in Singapore is decorated like a palace and people gather in and around the place to share the happy moments together. Irrespective of the cast, religion and ethnic background, people in Singapore observe Chinese New Year to make it a grand success. Chinatown becomes the place of celebration with many special events, entertainments and delicious foods and cuisines. If are in Singapore this Chinese New year, must visit Chinatown during the occasion. Focus Singapore features extensively the occasion and the events observed during the celebration of Chinese new year in Singapore.
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