Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2014
The highly anticipated Chinese festival in Singapore’s cultural calendar just got even more exciting as Chinatown had transformed into a stunning precinct of magnificent galloping horses and dazzling gold coins. Themed Galloping to Prosperity (万马奔腾迎新春, 千金闪耀庆丰年), Chinatown welcome the Year of Horse with its captivating street décor, celebratory activities and performances from 11 January to 28 February 2014. Organised by Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee (KA-KS CCC), these celebrations are part of the Hua Qing (华庆) Spring Festival celebrations, an umbrella branding for Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore. This year’s design theme and décor was put together in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). This is the third partnership with the school where creative young minds and hands go into the Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2014 Street Light-Up. The Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2014 aims to promote the heritage of Chinatown and to bring to life age-old traditions of Chinese New Year festivities. As the world celebrates the 20th anniversary of the United Nations International Year of Families in 2014, Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2014’s array of events also aim to foster stronger family bond and harmony. The series of Chinatown Chinese New Year celebratory events were kicked off with the Official Opening and Light-Up Ceremony (2014 年牛车水农历新年庆祝活动开幕典礼与亮灯仪式) on Saturday, 11 January 2014 at New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street. President Tony Tan Keng Yam had grace the event as the Guest-Of-Honour. Bringing together families and friends from different cultural background, the ceremony manifests in the form of a grand musical, showcasing an ensemble of skits, songs, dance, martial arts and acrobatic performances choreographed by an award-winning dance choreographer. The seven-week long Chinese New Year celebrations will also feature new initiatives targeting the youths, in an effort to generate greater interest in the younger generation and to inject vibrancy and vivacity into the traditional festive celebrations. For the first time, KA-KS CCC had conducted walking tours down Singapore’s best-kept Chinese enclave. On the Chinatown Chinese New Year Walking Trail (牛车水农历新年文化之旅), visitors weave through five-foot ways and restored colonial shophouses, taking in the stunning sights of the Chinese New Year décor and the sounds of the Festive Street Bazaar. Through these informative trails, KA-KS CCC hopes that visitors, in particular the younger ones, can learn more about the rich heritage of Chinatown. The Walking Trails cover Kreta Ayer Road, Sago Street, Pagoda Street and New Bridge Road. These arranged tours are free to the public and are available on five selected days, all before Chinese New Year. Another first, KA-KS CCC has partner with Republic Polytechnic’s School of Hospitality to run a 24/7 Challenge - Short Video Competition. Featuring more than 30 groups of four to six students, participants were given 24 hours to put together a short video that captures the essence of Chinese New Year in Chinatown. Other exciting celebratory events include the Festive Street Bazaar (年货市场) with 480 eclectic stalls, Nightly Stage Shows (综艺晚会) that add to the festive atmosphere, and the 7th International Lion Dance Competition (第七届牛车水新春国际狮王争霸邀请赛). For more information, please visit www.chinatownfestivals.sg.
