Most Singaporean Chinese observe the Lunar New Year. This holiday traditionally begins between the winter solstice and the first day of spring, which occurs between January 21 and February 20. This year, the Singapore Lunar New Year 2023 will begin on Sunday, January 22.
To welcome the Chinese New Year, Singapore hosts a huge party every year. Don't blink as the city ramps up its yearly celebration with your favorite festive melodies, family reunion meals, colorful parades, and lion dances. Find out what to see and restaurants to reserve for your Chinese New Year celebrations in this comprehensive guide!
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Lunar New Year 2023 is a terrific time to catch up with loved ones and gorge on delicious treats. It’s also fascinating to learn about the legends, customs, and etiquette surrounding the Chinese New Year. Therefore, to ease your transition into the Chinese New Year traditions, we would like to talk about the Lunar New Year celebration in Singapore.
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The mythology of Nian, a historical beast that terrorized villages and devoured crops, cattle, and sometimes even children, is the inspiration for this celebration. However, people soon discovered the beast's vulnerabilities upon discovering that it was half bull and half lion.
These vulnerabilities were the color red, flames, and loud sounds. Thus, armed with intelligence, the Nian was eventually vanquished. This is the origin of the New Year's red clothing, firework displays, and lion dance.
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Red is unquestionably the color of the season. The Chinese New Year's holiday in Singapore is frequently characterized by a sea of crimson. The story behind this is the widespread belief that wearing anything red would result in a windfall of prosperity and success. Therefore, wearing red during lunar new year festivals is strongly suggested, even for tourists.
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Despite the prohibition on firecrackers, you can still see lion dances all over Singapore. These expert dancers, garbed in scarlet and gold and crowned with lion's heads, perform to the rhythm of traditional drums.
On January 22, the ceremonial Singapore Chinese New Year 2023 event will begin. Guests can expect a visual and auditory feast. Walking along Orchard Road, you could hear gong sounds and cheers every once in a while. Sellers offering a wide variety of delicacies and traditional goods are sure to charm you.
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Reunion meals are another typical way for people to celebrate special occasions together. Therefore, on the night of the New Year, these feasts are traditionally hosted. The steamboat dishes are the centerpiece of the dinner, but the appetizers, such as oranges, pineapple pastries, and many more, are delicious as well.
The best part of this tradition is that you don’t have to cook for yourself. The most renowned restaurants in Singapore also serve the holiday menu.
Yusheng | Source: Shutterstock
Now it's time to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2023 with a feast fit for a king and fill your luck tank for the year ahead. You can dine to your heart's delight on anything from one-of-a-kind yusheng masterpieces to opulent variations of pen cai filled with lucky ingredients.
These traditional Lunar New Year Singaporean dishes can save the day if you aren't planning to cook a big meal for the family reunion. So, gather the soldiers and shout as many positive sayings as you can while tossing up the traditional yusheng!
Source: Man Fu Yuan
Start the Lunar New Year with a honey pink guava-dressed yu sheng that measures in at a grand 60 inches. There was no typo there; it really is 60 inches! Therefore, be sure to bring your appetite.
The Abundance Treasures Pot, brimming with 18 quality ingredients, including six-head abalones, full-dried scallops, and lobsters, is the centerpiece. Moreover, the Chinese New Year food is brought to a happy close with the return of the crowd-favorite chilled pink guava, pomelo, and aloe vera.
The Name of The Restaurant | Man Fu Yuan |
Address | Middle Road, InterContinental Singapore |
Opening Hours | 12–3 PM, 6–10 PM |
Prices for Lunar New Year’s Menu | SGD 798 for 5 pax |
Source: Jiang-Nan Chun
First, let’s welcome the new year with eight courses of the restaurant's signature dishes from the delightfully rustic Cantonese menu. At the beginning of Yu Sheng's meal, you'll be treated to a taste of the sea with dishes like lobster, surf oysters, salmon, and abalone.
But behold, the show-stopper is a dish of braised three-head abalone served with tender pig belly. We recommend you have a side of rice so that none of that delicious sauce is wasted.
The Name of The Restaurant | Jiang-Nan Chun |
Address | Singapore Four Seasons Hotel |
Opening Hours | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 6–10:30 PM |
Prices for Lunar New Year’s Menu | Start from SGD 148 |
Source: Min Jiang
When you think of Chinese New Year food, Min Jiang has to be among the first names that spring to mind. The Eight Prosperity meals are ideal for big gatherings, and they include crowd-pleasing dishes like the iconic Silver Hill Irish duck and a variety of treasure pots brimming with the finest of land and sea. Moreover, braised pork knuckle is a new savory treat coming to the marine treasure pot for those who like it.
The Name of The Restaurant | Min Jiang |
Address | Dempsey Road, Goodwood Park Hotel |
Opening Hours | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 6:30–10:30 PM |
Prices for Lunar New Year’s Menu | Start from SGD 148 |
Lunar New Year in Singapore is best experienced with friends and family. Therefore, make the most of the celebration in Chinatown and have dinner at the top restaurant in the city. Don’t forget to download Traveloka, your lifestyle super app for more information!