Lunar New Year's Day, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the most pivotal and joyous holidays in Singapore. Celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar, its date varies each year but typically falls between January 21 and February 20. The holiday honors household and heavenly deities and ancestors by commencing the New Year with family get-togethers, vibrant cultural displays, and public festivities.
Singapore’s streets are decked in vibrant colors, especially red, believed to symbolize luck and ward off evil spirits. People clean their homes to welcome good fortune and decorate them with lanterns, couplets and cardboard cutouts of the zodiac animal of the year. It is also tradition to exchange Mandarin oranges for good luck. Singapore's highlight, Chingay Parade, is an annual street parade showcasing multicultural performances and floats.
The reunion dinner on New Year's Eve is a cornerstone of Lunar New Year's celebration in Singapore, bringing together extended families to herald the new lunar cycle. Food plays a significant role during this holiday with dishes that symbolize luck, longevity, and prosperity, such as Yusheng and Mandarin oranges. One tradition popular among children is receiving red packets 'hongbao' containing money, symbolizing the transfer of good luck from the older generations to the younger ones.