I love Chinese New Year and all the colourful festivities that surround it. And each year I learn something new about the traditions … which usually comes about by me first making a faux pas!
So to help you I've come up with some useful tips that one is not to forget at this time of the year:
> red and yellow are the the colours for good luck and prosperity … so these are the splashes of colour to wear to special events
> 'Gong Xi Fa Chai' is how you wish Happy New Year … except that this is the Mandarin version. I learnt this year that there is a slight variation to the Cantonese version. And I was wondering why I kept hearing different greetings!
> always have a sack of mandarins ready at home! Last night a great friend came over for dinner and brought us two mandarins … and of course in return, you are to give two mandarins back. And we didn't have them!! Thank god it was his birthday … and we made a chocolate butterscotch birthday cake for him instead, with 8 candles. Prosperity, prosperity.
> Lion Dance … this is my favorite tradition. We always see it at the Shangri-La Hotel on the first day of the new year. But over the next 15 days, you will always either here the drumming in the distance, or see a truck with 15 dancers dressed in red and yellow accompanied by a lion head sitting in the trunk, or you'll be in a shopping mall and the lion will be making his way around. It's basically to bless the owner, tenant, shop-owner, family with prosperity and longevity.
> ang pao envelope: at social or family gatherings, it's customary to give a red envelope with cash in it to the children, or to the family. The red symbolizes good luck. And make sure that the amount you include ends with the auspicious 8. So $28, $38, etc
> Lo Hei noodle toss: no CNY is complete without a noodle toss. As you're tossing the noodles higher and higher while shouting Lo Hei, the group is wishing for prosperity in the coming year. And best of all, this is a very local tradition which you won't see anywhere else in the region.
With these small tips in mind … have a great and prosperous start to the year of the Tiger! And enjoy the calmness of Singapore that can be seen on CNY ... for this is as quiet as the city gets!