CNY Celebrations Singapore
Popular Chinese New Year Decorations
by Business Listings EditorPhoto credit: canstockphoto
Chinese New Year is observed not only in Singapore and Hong Kong, but also in many parts of the world. People come together to celebrate this 15-day long festivity.
Aside from the sumptuous dishes and delicacies, exhilarating events and street shows that can be tasted and seen practically around the city, the ubiquitous and highly symbolic decorations have a huge role to play in this joyous season.
Any home, business establishment, and even the streets would seem incomplete without these popular Chinese New Year decorations.
So here are some must-have decorations for the upcoming Chinese festivities.
Chinese Red Lanterns
Photo from Suloke Mathai via Flickr (Creative Commons)
As the name suggests, Chinese red lanterns are beautiful red lanterns that come in wonderful shapes and different sizes. Lanterns hanging everywhere is common—on trees, along the streets, on doors, and even at the workplace. They are not only beautiful to look at, but many Chinese people also believe that they can ward off bad luck or evil spirits.
People usually have these decorations put up from CNY in spring, all the way past the Lantern festival in mid-Autumn.
Photo from kafka4prez via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Paper cuttings are another very popular decoration piece during this time of year. You can cut papers of any colour—though red is the most preferred one—and create different attractive shapes with them.
The most common shapes include those that look like the Zodiac animals, and Chinese characters that are associated with good luck. People glue these paper cuttings along the walls of their houses, but especially on windows and doors or on any contrasting backgrounds. These decorations are believed to attract prosperity and good luck in the coming New Year.
New Year paintings and wood block prints
Photo from Master Fine Art Cheung via Flickr (Creative Commons)
The beautiful paintings on the doors and walls are both a decorative feature and a sign of good tidings. The most common painted images include those of plants and legendary figures.
Furthermore, the Wood Block Prints that feature gods printed on the gates act as a symbol of protection for the home. People usually go for the marital and the literary ancient door gods, though nowadays, prints from folk stories, customs, and drama based on lucky themes are a common sight. These prints are said to attract wealth and good luck.
Chunlian
Photo from hslo via Flickr (Creative Commons)
These decorations are made up of long and narrow red pieces of paper which are printed using gold or black Chinese characters. These decorations are mostly hung on doorways, along the top and sides of the main door, and even around the house.
It is also common to find smaller versions of chunlian on mirrors and on bedroom doors, especially the diamond-shaped ones. The presence of chunlian is closely associated with prosperity, virtue, joy, sincerity, and truth, qualities and fortunes that everyone wants to have throughout their lives. Before the New Year, a family has to clean the house and remove old chunlian in order to create room for the new.
Now that you know what decorations to spruce your home up with for Chinese New Year, you better get cracking on looking out for the perfect decorations, or better yet, unleash your creativity and make them yourself!
For more Chinese New Year tips and stories about traditions, food, and activities, check our Chinese New Year consumer guide.