Photo by RODNAE Productions via Pexels
It’s that time of the year when it’s easy to overlook the thin line between looking red as an Ang Bao and really owning your CNY outfit of the day when it’s carnival vibes all round and you’re in a city that hasn’t been your home all your life. Hello 2023! Here are some tips and tricks for you to make your CNY in Singapore super special and fun. Your positive affirmation for today is that you belong here.
But what is CNY all about? For all our outsider friends, we are happy to decode the fascinating Chinese festival featuring all the glitz and glamour around the stunning decor and traditions complete with slow living tips on how to feel at home and embrace the unique Chinese culture. Apart from the fireworks, dragon dance, pretty lanterns, beautiful lighting, rituals, family visits and the traditional exchange of the red envelopes and twin tangerines, there is a lot more that doesn’t seem to meet the eye.
Photo by Dyana Wing So on Unsplash
#DidYouKnow - 5 Things You Need To Know about CNY
- The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar. The dates always fall between January 21 and February 20.
- It is the longest 15-day celebration and one of the most revered public holidays in Chinese culture. Celebrations start with the New Year’s Eve and ends with the Lantern Festival.
- Each year is characterised by one of the 12 animals under the Chinese Zodiac. For instance, the year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit - a water sign.
- Not just Mainland China, the Chinese New Year is also celebrated in places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and other Asian countries.
- Everything is red because the Chinese associate the colour with wealth, happiness, and prosperity.
Chinese New Year Checklist
Common Activities
Chinese New Year celebrations involve a lot of daily activities to keep your spirits up and alive right up till the grand day. There is a lot ot do - worshipping the kitchen god, shopping for the festival, getting new clothes, decluttering and renovating your home inside and out, having reunion parties or dinner and setting off colourful fireworks. Check out some of our handmade ceramics, speckled rice bowls and minimal serveware to make your dinner parties elegant and heartwarming!
Lantern Festival Highlights
Last bit of celebration is breathtaking with a number of lanterns released into the sky with people enjoying rice dumplings and solving puzzling lantern riddles. In present times, the Chinese New Year is also about slowing down, taking time off work and doing anything that is relaxing and rejuvenates you for a fresh start. If that calls for some retail therapy, we’re right here to help you look for your perfect CNY outfit that you can get into and try the very next day. Check them out here. Express shipping all over Singapore!
A CNY Feast
Chinese New Year festival is a feasty affair where every food item signifies something. The gastronomical treats involve a lot of noodles and dumplings for 15 days straight. Are we binge eating yet? The noodles are a symbol of longevity and happiness while dumplings signify wealth.
Picture - Christieathome
Some more popular snacks and sweet dishes that your taste buds will adore you for, especially enjoyed around the Chinese New Year are spring rolls, fruits, niangao, and tangyuan. Want to try making one of these at home? Here’s Christie demystifying tangyuan for you!
Have a happy and wholesome Chinese New Year 2023. Take it easy!
Leave a comment