This is in fact an occasion where the Malays, Indians, and people from all walks of life take part in the festive celebrations in Singapore as well.
The traditional goodies are just one of the many highlights during this
auspicious festival, and, needless to say, the hot favourite of a typical Singaporean. Such treats would include the Pineapple tarts, Love letters, Yu Sheng (raw fish salad), Dumplings and of course, the sweet Tangerines! Of course, for many of us, we tend to benefit when our mothers and grandmothers would stay at home baking and making the goodies as part of the yearly preparations!
This season is usually this period of time when we are welcomed home after
a long day of school with aromas from the baking wafting into our noses! It has also been quite a bit of routine now for Chinese neighbours to exchange goodies. For example, my mother might make pineapple tarts for a neighbour and the neighbour might in turn make delicious love letters for my family!
The Chinese New Year also has many interesting stories and beliefs behind it. For one, there is the belief that the festival should be celebrated with firecrackers, lanterns and torches, to chase away the kuei (evil spirits), who are believed to be dispersed by light and noise.
Exceptions have been made for this special festival, Chinese New Year. Every year, during the nation-wide countdown event, firecrackers are lit up in Chinatown. This heritage-based place, bustling in frenzy most of the time, is also a hotspot for Singaporeans and tourists alike to snatch up and savour the many traditional goodies fresh from the oven.
Due to our enthusiasm in celebrating this festival, making sure we all have a blast, people from all over Singapore travel down to Chinatown to feel the atmosphere of the festival! Many people, especially those who might have just moved, might hire people to perform the dance during this festive season!
The lion dancers would then, entertain the family and crowds with tricks and stunts to keep the happy atmosphere of the season going.
So if you were to visit a friend in Singapore during this festive season, do not be surprised if you suddenly hear cheers and loud drumming coming from the neighbouring homes! Dragon dances and lion dances also take place in streets and public places throughout the first few days of the ChineseNew Year.
At the same time, the colour red is believed to be able to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck to the family. Perhaps this is why much of the Lunar New Year’s decorations are made in red! There all many types of decorations available, ranging from auspicious Chinese words with glitter to decorations made accordingly to the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, depending on what year it is.
For example, this year is the year of the rat, and during visits to many relatives’ homes, they even pasted decorations of Mickey Mouse on their doors! Some even hung key chains moulded to the shape of a rat on their plants!
Chinatown, with its decorations during the season is a must-go venue! It is only there that one can say he, or she has truly experienced the Chinese New Year atmosphere in Singapore! One or two days before the start of celebrations, many people would go down to do any last minute shopping for the highly anticipated festival! Therefore, it is of no surprise that every year the roads get so congested that walking through the crowds can be a bit of a hassle.
However, what is the New Year without such an atmosphere and noise? Thus, a trip down to Chinatown during the festive season whether to try out our traditional goodies, where you can be sure to find every single type of it, or to look at the firecrackers display, or even to just take photos of the decorations and of the area itself, is definitely a priceless experience!
It is on this festive season that we get money in the form of ang-baos, otherwise known an red packets, (which symbolises luck and well-wishing) from our parents and the married relatives and this extra source of ‘pocket money’ for us often means that we will be able to go out with our friends after the season for a movie, or even a chance to finally get the toys and clothes that we have been eyeing for a long time! Next time you see eager children saying well wishes to an adult, you will know why!
So, what are you waiting for? Come and join us in the festive celebrations in the year of the Ox in 2009! (The 15 day celebration starts 26 January 2009.)
What’s more, you’ll get to experience the crowds along the streets of Chinatown, where you will be able to soak up the festive atmosphere and join in the celebrations of one of the most celebrated festivals of the year!
***
Some personal experiences:
"Absence makes the heart grows fonder! It's good opportunity for me to meet up with my overseas relatives. Boy, I miss them!" -Joanne
"Chinese New Year is one where my cousins and I are looking out for! Thats because we can collect lots of red packets. Not only that, we can have a small bet on blackjacks and mahjong! Fun, laughters and enjoyment is what I receive in the midst of this joyous occasion! 3 cheers to CNY!" -Fabian
"This is one of the markings of the start of my near year where every single person related to my family will meet up and catch up. Young or old. Traditional Goodies are the best! Especially Barbeque pork! Not forgetting the Ang Pao my cousins and I recieve. This season should be labelled- Nothing but Fun. " -Lynn
At the same time, the colour red is believed to be able to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck to the family. Perhaps this is why much of the Lunar New Year’s decorations are made in red! There all many types of decorations available, ranging from auspicious Chinese words with glitter to decorations made accordingly to the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, depending on what year it is. 
Chinatown, with its decorations during the season is a must-go venue! It is only there that one can say he, or she has truly experienced the Chinese New Year atmosphere in Singapore! One or two days before the start of celebrations, many people would go down to do any last minute shopping for the highly anticipated festival! Therefore, it is of no surprise that every year the roads get so congested that walking through the crowds can be a bit of a hassle. 
It is on this festive season that we get money in the form of ang-baos, otherwise known an red packets, (which symbolises luck and well-wishing) from our parents and the married relatives and this extra source of ‘pocket money’ for us often means that we will be able to go out with our friends after the season for a movie, or even a chance to finally get the toys and clothes that we have been eyeing for a long time! Next time you see eager children saying well wishes to an adult, you will know why!
So, what are you waiting for? Come and join us in the festive celebrations in the year of the Ox in 2009! (The 15 day celebration starts 26 January 2009.)