Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year and is the most important holiday in Chinese culture. The celebration dates back thousands of years and is steeped in mythology — including the legend of Nian, a fearsome beast that would emerge on New Year's Eve to terrorize villages.

Villagers discovered that Nian feared the color red, loud noises, and fire. This is why red decorations, firecrackers, and lanterns became central to the celebration. The holiday is fundamentally about family reunion, gratitude for the past year, and hope for the year ahead.

Families gather for a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, featuring auspicious dishes like whole fish (symbolizing abundance) and nian gao (sticky rice cake for prosperity). In Singapore, the Lo Hei tradition is a highlight — families toss Yu Sheng (raw fish salad) high into the air while shouting auspicious phrases for good fortune. Red envelopes (angpao) containing money are given to children and unmarried adults. Homes are thoroughly cleaned before New Year's Day to sweep away bad luck, then decorated with red couplets, lanterns, and paper cuttings.