As I am Chinese, I would like to start off introducing the Chinatown in Singapore.
The best time to visit Chinatown is 2 weeks before Chinese (or Lunar) New Year. This is the time where some of the streets will be closed up for vehicles passing and lots of stalls will be set up in selling Chinese New Year's goodies, ornaments, clothings, plants, etc. Everyear, I will come down to Chinatown during this period, not necessary to buy things, but to feel the mood of New Year. To celebrate on the arrival of Chinese New Year, there will be performances and count down on the eve. This is the night where Chinatown is most dense with people during the 2 weeks.
The best time to visit Chinatown is 2 weeks before Chinese (or Lunar) New Year. This is the time where some of the streets will be closed up for vehicles passing and lots of stalls will be set up in selling Chinese New Year's goodies, ornaments, clothings, plants, etc. Everyear, I will come down to Chinatown during this period, not necessary to buy things, but to feel the mood of New Year. To celebrate on the arrival of Chinese New Year, there will be performances and count down on the eve. This is the night where Chinatown is most dense with people during the 2 weeks.
As traffic will be very dense during this period, the best way to travel to Chinatown will be by MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) by the NEL (North-East Line). One of the entrance of the Chinatown Station is right at the heart of Chinatown, Pagoda Street (see photo).
Below are some stalls selling the Chinese New Year ornaments. Chinese have always regards "red" and "gold" as our auspicious colours. So most of the ornaments are of these colours. As 2008 is the year of rat, there are also ornaments with cartoon mouse added. Chinese families like to decorate their home with these ornaments during Chinese New Years, as they believe that its not only adds mood of the festive, but also bring them good luck and wealth for the new year ahead.
If you visit the Chinese families during Chinese New Year period , they will served you with the New Year goodies like cookies, sweets, preserved fruits, melon seeds, peanuts, buak kwa(bbq dried pork or chicken), etc.
Chinese sauages, salted duck and porks are also popular. They are the necessary ingredients in making the "Eight Treasures Rice" and "Clay Pot rice". These are some of the Cantonese speciality dishes.
There are also other stalls selling clothings, festive plants and flowers, etc. that you can find there. For the best deal, buy your stuff on eve. As the stall owners need to clear all their goods on the eve, they will have the best promotions or offer on the late night of eve.
I noticed that red is predominant, is there a meaning behind the color?
ReplyDeleteHi Ruby, there is a little story behind. Please see the brief write up below.
ReplyDeleteBased on legend, there was a ferocious creature called “Nian” which create chaos to the villagers. After fighting with the Nian for many years, the people found out that Nian was afraid of 3 things – the colour red, fire and loud sound.
So for one night, every family in the village pasted red paper couplets on their doors, lit red lanterns, beat gongs and let off firecrackers. When Nian came, it was frighten by seeing the colour red and hearing the thunderous sound. It retreated back into the mountains and dared not come out again.
In celebration of their victory in chasing the Nian away, tradition had been passed down that every families will paste red paper couplets on the doors, wear red clothes and set off firecrackers during Chinese New Year. It is also a tradition to keep the house lit up all night through the eve of Chinese New Year