This coming Chinese New Year of the Horse falls on 31 January 2014 (Friday). In Singapore, on the eve of Chinese New Year, everyone will go home to have a reunion dinner before heading to the temple (if you are Buddhist) or go to Chinatown or River Ang Bao or some might just stay at home!
Since young, I have always followed my parents to go to temple to pray for the coming year to be a successful one. It is also a belief in Singapore that the first person to insert their joss stick into the joss stick pot the moment it passes midnight, will get a prosperous year! But it can get extremely crazy when thousands of believers are pushing and rushing to do that! Now I prefer to stay at home and watch telly! China, Taiwan, Malaysia and others also celebrate Chinese New Year.
So how would you celebrate? Have you thought of joining the celebrations with Chinese folks? These are the events in each cities in UK:
LONDON
Date: 2nd Feb 2014
Time:10 am to 6 pm
Festivities begin at 10am with a New Year’s Parade winding through London’s West End before reaching its final destination of Trafalgar Square. An opening ceremony officially launches the celebrations in Trafalgar Square followed by stage performances from an array of special guests which last year included tenor mega-star Paul Potts, and Hong Kong born musician Emmy The Great alongside traditional Chinese acts such as the gravity-defying lion dance.
Alongside the festivities in Trafalgar Square, a second stage on Shaftesbury Avenue traditionally plays host to performances from a range of local community groups and schools. Over the years the stage has seen fashion shows, plays and even Chinese Hip-Hop artists.
Check the website for more information: http://www.chinatownlondon.org/
BIRMINGHAM
Date: 2nd Feb 2014
Time: 12.30 to 5.30 pm
Location: Arcadian Centre
Free entertainment including lion dancing and firework.
MANCHESTER
Date: 2nd Feb 2014
Time: 12.30 to 5.30 pm
Location: Albert Square and Chinatown
With a 175-foot paper dragon, a lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, art workshops, fairground and a 15-minute firework display, the Dragon Parade is one of the highlights of Manchester’s annual events calendar.
DUBLIN
This is the seventh annual Dublin Chinese New Year Festival will take place in the city centre from January 7 – February 18, celebrating Chinese culture, music and dance. Check out Visit Dublin for more information!
These are photos a friend took from Singapore Chinatown last year.
Chinese New Year in Taiwan
Disclosure: All images used with permission. Special thanks to Chinatown London, Winston Teo and Meiling Leem.
