Chinese New Year 2012 - Enter The Water Dragon!

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Singapore
January-February 2012
 
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春节 (Pinyin: Chūnjié), since the spring season in Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year. It marks the end of the winter season, analogous to the Western Carnival. The festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēngyuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chúxī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year." Because the Chinese calendar is luni-solar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the "Lunar New Year".
 


Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Philippines, Vietnam, and also in Chinatowns elsewhere. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours.

With its predominantly 75% Chinese population, Chinese New Year is celebrated with great gusto. There are several events which are arranged at different places in Singapore as part of Chinese New Year 2012 Singapore celebration.
  

Dances With Dragons

City Square Mall
Little India
Central, Singapore
January 2012

 
The Dragon Dance is a Chinese dance usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other auspicious occasions to bring in good luck and prosperity. In the dance, a team of people carry the dragon — which is an image of the Chinese dragon — on poles. The movements in a performance traditionally symbolise historical roles of dragons demonstrating power and dignity.

Dragons are believed to bring good luck to people, which is reflected in their qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness.

This year, 2012, is the year of the Dragon. It is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac, and the only animal that is legendary. The Year of the Dragon considered the luckiest year in the Chinese zodiac.

Here are my photo journals of the other fascinating CNY 2012 celebrations in Singapore:
 
 
River Hongbao 2012 - Lanterns and Nostalgia By The Float
 

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