Loud decorations, open doorways: Disappearing Chinese New Year traditions in Singapore, Life-style News

With Chinese New Year approaching, conversations about whether or not it feels “less festive” or whether or not it nonetheless “feels like Chinese New Year” are likely to resurface. 

While we participate within the festive celebrations in Singapore, some traditions that when felt widespread are regularly evolving — and even quietly fading — amid rising consciousness of sustainability, technological developments and shifting generational ideologies. 

From childhood non-negotiables resembling shopping for model new garments to conventional customs resembling leaving doorways open at sure auspicious hours, listed below are some disappearing Chinese New Year traditions in Singapore. 

1. Gifting new notes

During Chinese New Year, brand-new notes are sometimes gifted in crimson packets to symbolise recent beginnings for the brand new 12 months. 

In current years, nevertheless, banks have began to advertise using “fit notes”, that are clear however used notes, for sustainability. While brand-new notes can be found by way of reservation, they’re typically restricted and in excessive demand.

2. Physical hong baos

Giving or receiving a crimson packet with each arms and well-wishes is a key custom throughout Chinese New Year — nevertheless it appears this apply or gesture can also be evolving.

To promote sustainability, the Monetary Authority of Singapore encourages the general public to make use of e-hong baos.

While a lot of the older era nonetheless use conventional crimson packets, youthful {couples} are embracing the comfort of the brand new choice — which saves them the difficulty of queueing for brand spanking new notes, shopping for crimson packets or carrying money — particularly as Singapore turns into an more and more cashless society.

3. Shopping for brand spanking new garments

Similar to the ideology behind utilizing new notes, shopping for and carrying model new garments — particularly for the primary day of Chinese New Year — represents a recent begin.

But as consciousness round quick style, overconsumption and sustainability rise among the many youthful Singaporeans, many are starting to repurpose items which might be already of their wardrobe or store at thrift shops for pre-loved clothes.

4. Avoiding darkish colors 

Dark colors, notably black, had been historically averted throughout Chinese New Year as they had been regarded as “inauspicious”.

While many nonetheless choose to decorate in brilliant, vibrant colors resembling crimson, pink, yellow and orange, the taboo on darker shades seems to be softening, with many conventional shops providing black qipaos and cheongsams for Chinese New Year.

5. Day one taboos

It is believed that washing one’s hair, or cleansing or sweeping on the primary day of Chinese New Year would “wash away” good luck and prosperity. For years, extra conventional households would keep away from doing so.

Over time, practicality seems to have outweighed these beliefs, as many households now not strictly observe these restrictions — particularly for youthful, working households who could not have time to do spring-cleaning upfront.

6. Observing ‘chi kou’

The third day of Chinese New Year, also referred to as “chi kou”, was believed to be an inauspicious day the place evil spirits roamed and disagreements would come up between households and mates. Thus, it was widespread apply for conventional households to remain house to “hide” from the dangerous luck.

These days, the customized is never practised, with most workplaces returning to work on the third day of Chinese New Year. Many folks proceed to go to household and mates throughout the primary few days of the festivities, attributable to packed social calendars.

7. Paper reducing

Intricate crimson paper cuttings — typically that includes auspicious Chinese characters and zodiac animals — had been as soon as a standard sight on home windows and doorways throughout Chinese New Year.

They had been typically handmade and used as decorations to signify blessings, prosperity and good luck.

Today, as youthful households are sometimes busy with work and the older era ages, paper reducing has turn out to be much less widespread. While paper-cut decorations are nonetheless round, many are manufactured as an alternative of hand-cut.

That being mentioned, the commerce nonetheless exists, with some younger artists — resembling PaperXMan — including their very own modern twist to the artwork. His designs embody ones included with QR codes, in addition to trendy designs.

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8. Loud decorations

Chinese New Year was all about loud, maximalist decorations paired with booming festive songs. While the decorations haven’t disappeared fully and may nonetheless be discovered at markets, many youthful households are gravitating in the direction of extra delicate shows that align with their very own aesthetic.

Many boutiques in Singapore are beginning to choose up on this and minimalistic Chinese New Year decor starting from couplets and fortune decals to lanterns and buntings at the moment are broadly out there.

9. Reunion dinner

The reunion dinner is commonly described as crucial a part of Chinese New Year celebrations, however even this custom has developed. 

While it is sometimes held on Chinese New Year eve and at a guardian’s house to signify household unity, extra households are choosing restaurant celebrations for comfort — and the dinners aren’t at all times essentially held on the identical day. 

Splitting reunion dinners into a number of days across the festive interval is turning into more and more widespread to accommodate completely different schedules and bigger households as folks prioritise spending time along with family members over conventional “rules”. 

10. Shopping at festive markets

For many, a part of the festivities meant heading to Chinatown, neighbourhood markets or pasar malams to fill up on Chinese New Year goodies resembling snacks, decorations and substances for reunion dinner. 

These days, with the recognition of on-line procuring, households that prioritise time and comfort are opting to have this stuff delivered straight to their doorstep. 

While Chinatown stays full of life yearly, fewer households are treating the procuring journeys as a must-do ritual and extra of a leisure exercise.

11. Leaving doorways open

In some households, households would depart their doorways and home windows open at an auspicious hour to welcome the God of Wealth. 

But as youthful generations prioritise practicality and privateness, this custom seems to have turn out to be much less widespread. 

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