Yes, in Singapore, during New Year and the two days after New Year, it is significantly quieter than usual! We noticed it most at the metro. It was completely empty on January 21st and 22nd.
Did I already mention that Chinese New Year is different every year? The New Year's Day falls on a new moon between January 21st and February 21st. The date is calculated according to the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is often referred to as "Lunar New Year." Singapore is very multicultural, but the largest proportion of the population is of Chinese descent. Chinese New Year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday. I'm not sure if the holiday is as deeply rooted in the cultures of other Singaporean ethnic groups, but almost all shops in Singapore are closed for two days.
The stores also decide individually when they will reopen. Some were already open on the third day, while others remained closed for 6 days.
I find it very fascinating to see how significant New Year is. Everywhere, there are signs of the New Year. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, and rabbits were seen all over the city. Everywhere! And they were so cute! Even Ikea and McDonald's adapted to it. At McDonald's, the two round arches of the "M" were turned into rabbit ears.
During New Year, people in Asia wish for prosperity, not health or happiness. Chinese culture has very different priorities than Western culture. Describing it here would exceed the scope of this blog. But at this point, it is important for me to emphasize that different does not mean inferior. We Europeans sometimes have the habit of considering our culture superior to others.
We repeatedly saw Chinese lions and dragons in the days following New Year. Chinese dancers travel around the city in small buses and perform dragon and/or lion dances at various locations. We couldn't find a pattern of where they would appear. We always encountered them randomly somewhere. Sometimes in a shopping mall, sometimes in a restaurant, sometimes in a private house. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see a complete dance. We were always just a bit too late, or they disappeared into a residential building where we couldn't follow.
And another intriguing custom that we don't quite understand is the mandarins on the ground. They always seem to depict some kind of messages or figures. Once we saw an rabbit out of mandarines. Check out the photos in the album (link is at the end of the page), there you will see what I mean.
Jack and I have found out what zodiac signs we have. Our "horoscopes" for the coming year are very promising ;)
📷 You can find many more great pictures in the photo album
👉 and here ist our first blog entry concerining the Chinesischen New year
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