Chinese New Year celebration is in the air and one of my favourite places to enjoy it is in Chinatown, Singapore. 2015 welcomes the year of the sheep on February 19th and Chinatown is abuzz with activities as locals prepare for their annual holiday in grand style. What always strike me the most though is the festive red and gold decorations.
Singapore’s historic Chinatown is a distinct mix of old and new, filled with traditional shops and markets as well as trendy stores and cafes, all surrounded by the tall skyscrapers that has become a signature of the Singapore skyline.
The colour red symbolizes good fortune, good luck, happiness and joy in the Chinese culture and it is found everywhere during the Chinese New Year and other family holidays or gatherings. Yellow or gold is considered to be the centre of everything because of the Chinese saying "Yellow generates Yin and Yang." Yellow symbolizes neutrality and good luck and is sometimes paired with red in place of gold. It was the color of Imperial China and is held as the symbolic color of the five legendary emperors of ancient China. It also represents freedom from worldly cares and is thus esteemed in Buddhism as seen where Monks’ garments are yellow, as are elements of Buddhist temples.
So as Chinatown in Singapore is elegantly dressed in red and gold, let's wish the Chinese community "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in welcoming the Year of the Sheep!
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