2014

Xin Nian Kuai Le

Uniquely Singapore
As Singapore is a multi-racial country with various
cultures and traditions, it is important for us to
strengthen our racial and religious harmony.
In order to achieve this, we must be aware of our culture
differences. We can be GRACIOUS by respecting each
other culture and traditions.
That will make us Uniquely Singapore.

The Chinese New Year is very similar to other
festivals in Singapore, filled in traditions and
rituals.
The origin of the Chinese New Year is itself
centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be
traced. It is popularly recognized as the Spring
Festival and celebrations last 15 days.


How did Chinese New Year come about?
According to legend, Nian is a beast that comes in spring.
A phrase for celebrating Chinese New Year, guo nian means the passing of
the beast. It is believed that it lives under the sea. It came to attack people
at the same time of the year.
But in some stories, an immortal was said to have made use of Nian's powers
(eating up venomous snakes and killing wild beasts like tigers and lions)
before taming it (by flashing his red undergarment to scare Nian, who
feared the colour red).
Since then, the Chinese tradition of decorating in red, burning firecrackers,
and the lion dance with loud drums and gongs was to to prevent Nian from
coming back.
However, people today have long forgotten why they
are doing all this, except that they feel the colour
and the sound add to the excitement of the
celebration.

A stone sculpture of Nian the beast
Preparing for Chinese New Year
Preparations tend to begin a month from the date of the
Chinese New Year when people start buying presents,
decoration materials, food and clothing.
A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New
Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to
bottom, to sweep away any traces of bad luck, and doors
and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually
red.
The doors and windows are then decorated with paper
cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness,
wealth and longevity printed on them.


Inviting wealth and prosperity, this
traditional New Year's decoration hangs
on the front door of Chinese homes
Chinese New Year lanterns
Chinese New Year Decorations
Chinese New Year banners
Chinese New Year Food
What gives a certain food symbolic significance?
Sometimes it is based on appearance.
For example, serving a whole chicken during the
Chinese New Year season symbolizes family
togetherness.
An orange chicken dish
Chinese New Year Food
Fish also play a large role in festive celebrations.
The word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both
for wish and abundance.
As a result, on New Year's Eve it is customary to
serve a fish at the end of the evening meal,
symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming
year.
For added symbolism, the fish is served whole, with
head and tail attached, symbolizing a good
beginning and ending for the coming year.

A fish dish
Chinese New Year Food
A noodle dish
Yu Sheng represent a long life; an old superstition
says that it's bad luck to cut them.

Celebrating Chinese New Year
In Singapore, Chinatown is the place where our Chinese friends go to
to buy their Chinese New Year goodies and decorations. This year, the
lights are lighted up in China Town from 11 Jan till 28 Feb 2014.
Chinese New Year Oranges
When our chinese friends go visiting, they will bring
with them oranges to give to their relatives or friends.
This is because ju, the Chinese word for "orange,"
sounds like the word for "good luck.
Because everyone is going from house to house visiting
people, bringing oranges with them, 99.9 percent of
these oranges never actually get eaten!
Giving Hongbao (red packets or red envelopes) during the
Chinese New Year is another tradition. A red packet is
simply a red envelope with gift money in it, which
symbolizes luck and wealth.
Red is the lucky colour and will bring good luck to the
person receiving the present. It is given by married
couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. The amount
of money in the red packets should be of even numbers,
as odd numbers are associated with cash given during
funerals.
Chinese New Year Hongbao
Chinese New Year Taboos and
Superstitions
On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other
cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on
New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

On Chinese New Year's Day, we are not suppose to
wash our hair because it would mean we would have
washed away good luck for the New Year.
Do not use knives or scissors on Chinese New Year's
Day as this may cut off fortune.
2014 The Year of the Horse
Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on
Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He
announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that
animal's personality.
2014 marked the Year of the Horse in this year Chinese New Year. Being in a
multi-racial society, the non-chinese Singaporeans have shown great
understanding in the significance of such a year.
Therefore, it is important for YOU to understand the significance of it too.
Personality Traits:
They are energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able people
Question 1
What is the name of the beast which is
associated with celebration of Chinese New
Year?

Ans: Nian
Question 2
What does serving a whole chicken mean
during Chinese New Year?

Ans: Family togetherness
Question 3
What is the chinese word for orange?

Ans: Ju
Question 4
The money in the Hongbao should be even.
True/False

Ans: True
Xin Nian Kuai Le