Celebrating Lunar New Year with a Pinoy Touch
The celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year in the Philippines has become more than just a festivity for the Filipino-Chinese community. It’s a special non-working holiday celebrated by Chinese people throughout the world.
However, this new year falls on a different date from the Gregorian calendar. Lunar New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice (December 21), so there is no fixed date. This means that the Lunar New Year falls on a different date each year.
Recognizing the cultural significance of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Philippines declared it a special non-working holiday in certain areas with a significant Chinese population. This official acknowledgment reflects the government’s commitment to fostering unity and embracing the diversity of cultures within the nation.
The official holiday is a great marker of the Chinese culture that goes beyond the community and extended families of Chinese-Filipinos. The Lunar New Year celebration is no longer exclusive to Chinese Filipinos today as more and more Filipinos embrace Chinese New Year traditions.
The Chinese New Year is heralded throughout the Philippines. Through the years, there has been an interweaving of the Philippines-Chinese cultures creating a truly unique Filipino-Chinese New Year celebration.
Why the Philippines Celebrates Lunar New Year
The celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year in the Philippines is deeply rooted in the country’s historical and cultural connections with Chinese culture and the community. Filipino-Chinese families, with their rich heritage, have played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of the Philippines.
From adopting Feng Shui traditions, following the Chinese Zodiac to carrying lucky charms with Chinese characters, the fusion of this rich heritage has shaped what’s now recognized as Filipino-Chinese culture.
The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a vibrant tapestry woven into the cultural fabric of the nation.
Uniquely Pinoy Lunar New Year Celebration
Chinese New Year is not just a celebration confined to those with Chinese blood; it has transcended cultural boundaries to become a spectacle in the whole Philippines.
Many celebrations dragon dances, lion dances, and vibrant red decorations adorning streets and households, the festive atmosphere is palpable. This celebration is not only a time for Filipino-Chinese communities to come together but also an opportunity for the entire nation to join in the merriment.
Chinese communities around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, but here are some Filipino-Chinese traditions you’ll see:
Red Decorations and Feng Shui
Red is a dominant color during Chinese New Year celebrations, signifying good luck and warding off bad luck. Filipino-Chinese households decorate their homes with red ornaments, and shopkeepers hang banners and lanterns across shopfronts. Feng Shui experts believe that red attracts positive energy and encourages money entering for the entire year.
Dragon Dance and Lion Dance
The streets come alive with the rhythmic beats of drums and the vibrant colors of dragon and lion dances during Chinese New Year celebrations in the Philippines. It’s not unusual to see dancing dragons and lion dancers throughout public establishments like malls and streets.
These lively performances are believed to bring luck and bring prosperity. The dragon and lion dancers are also entrusted to drive bad luck and evil spirits away. It is a sight to behold as the majestic dragons and lions dance in unison, creating an atmosphere of joy and excitement for the new year ahead.
Red Envelopes and Lucky Money for Prosperity
A hallmark of Chinese New Year traditions is the exchange of red envelopes or “angpao.” Many Filipino-Chinese families, especially members in their early childhood would fondly look back on these red envelopes filled with money from senior members of the family.
This symbolizes a wish for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. Filipino-Chinese families and even non-Chinese households partake in this tradition, spreading joy and blessings among family members and friends. What’s important is the act and intent of giving the angpao–money is just a symbol.
Reunion Dinner with Filipino-Chinese Traditions
The Filipino-Chinese community places a strong emphasis on family ties during the Chinese New Year. Reunion dinners on New Year’s Eve bring most family members together to share a hearty meal. Similar to the Filipinos’ media noche tradition, members of a family gather together to partake of a hefty spread prepared by the host.
Filipino-Chinese traditions, such as serving traditional Chinese and Filipino cuisine, become a bridge that connects generations and strengthens family bonds. You will typically see tikoy (rice cakes), long noodles, dumplings, and other sticky dishes during these dinners. These rice cakes are also given as gifts to close friends and associates.
There are different meanings as to why these dishes are served, many of which are sticky to keep the family relationships close.
Family members bring their favorite dish and wear new clothes (typically in red) to signify goodwill and welcome new beginnings for all family members.
Ongpin Street as the Heart of Lunar New Year Celebrations
Ongpin Street, located in Manila’s Binondo district, the oldest Chinatown in the world, comes alive during the Lunar New Year. If you think it’s a good food trip destination, you should see Binondo during the Lunar New Year.
Shopkeepers hang red decorations across their door frames, and the entire street is adorned with symbols of good luck and prosperity. You can also expect to see a lion dance accompanied by gongs to ward off evil spirits during the Lunar New Year.
Chinese culture is definitely on full display in Ongpin and throughout Binondo’s thoroughfares, becoming the focal point for Lunar New Year festivities, attracting locals and tourists alike.
Gong Xi Fa Cai and Kung Hei Fat Choi (Wishing Prosperity and Long Life)
As the clock strikes midnight on Lunar New Year’s Eve, Filipinos greet each other with joyous expressions such as “Gong Xi Fa Cai” and “Kung Hei Fat Choi,” wishing prosperity and long life.
These traditional greetings echo through households and communities, creating an atmosphere of warmth and well-wishing. While there are few people outside of the Chinese communities that speak Chinese, these are phrases spoken throughout the Philippines during Chinese New Year.
An Inspiring Tapestry of Tradition and Unity
The celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year in the Philippines is more than just a festival; it is a harmonious blend of cultures, a testament to the unity that can arise from embracing diversity.
The dragon dances, red envelopes, and festive atmosphere create a cultural tapestry that resonates with Filipinos nationwide. As the Philippines welcomes each Lunar New Year, it not only celebrates Chinese traditions but also embraces a new beginning, symbolizing the unity of a diverse and vibrant nation.
At Camella, we celebrate the Chinese New Year with you and wish you good fortune. Whether you follow Chinese traditions during the Lunar New Year or not, your home in Camella is the perfect place for you to practice and strengthen your family traditions, including the rich Filipino-Chinese Traditions that are on full display during the Lunar New Year.
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