Overview
The second day of Chinese New Year (the second day of the first lunar month) is celebrated in Singapore as part of the wider Chinese New Year (CNY) festive period, which is a public holiday in the country. The day is commonly associated with visiting, family gatherings, and continued feasting, and it carries particular significance for married daughters and their families in Chinese custom. In Singapore, the day is observed alongside the first day as part of the two-day public holiday for Chinese New Year.
Meaning and Origins
In Chinese tradition, the second day of the new year is often called "Kai Nian" (开年), marking the start of the year's business and social activities after the first day's focus on family and ancestors. It is also traditionally the day when married daughters visit their parents and siblings, a custom that gave the day its association with reunion for married women and their natal families. In Singapore, these customs were carried over by Chinese immigrants and their descendants and continue to be observed in modified forms.
Customs and Traditions
- Visiting and reunion: Families continue house-to-house visiting, and the second day is especially associated with married daughters returning to their parents' homes.
- Red packets (hongbao): Married adults give red packets containing money to children, younger unmarried relatives, and sometimes parents and elders.
- Gift-giving: Common gifts include mandarin oranges, which symbolise luck and prosperity, and other auspicious items.
- Taboos: Traditional practices such as avoiding sweeping or throwing out rubbish on the first days, and avoiding sharp objects, are sometimes observed, though adherence varies widely in modern Singapore.
- Reunion meals: Families often gather for meals on both days, with the second day sometimes hosted by the married daughter's family or at the parents' home.
Food and Drink
Food plays a central role in the celebrations. Common CNY foods in Singapore include:
- Yusheng (lo hei): A raw fish salad tossed together with family and friends while saying auspicious phrases; it is especially popular during the festive period.
- Pineapple tarts, love letters, and bak kwa: Popular CNY snacks and gifts.
- Nian gao (year cake): A sticky rice cake symbolising progress and unity.
- Dumplings and whole fish: Eaten for their auspicious meanings.
- Mandarin oranges: Exchanged as gifts and eaten during visits.
On the second day, families may continue to serve festive dishes, and some households host open houses for relatives and friends.
Religious and Civic Observances
Chinese New Year is a public holiday in Singapore, and the second day is part of the official holiday period. Many Chinese temples see increased attendance during the festive days, with worshippers offering prayers and seeking blessings for the year ahead. Civic observances include community events organised by grassroots organisations and town councils, such as Chinese New Year celebrations and light-ups in various neighbourhoods. The Chingay Parade, a major street parade, is typically held around the CNY period and is a key public festivity, though it is not tied exclusively to the second day.
Public Festivities
Public celebrations in Singapore during Chinese New Year include:
- Chingay Parade: A large multi-cultural street parade featuring floats, performers, and lights, usually held in the weeks around CNY.
- River Hongbao: A festive event at Marina Bay with lantern displays, performances, and food stalls.
- Chinatown light-up: The Chinatown area is decorated with lanterns and stalls, attracting crowds throughout the festive period.
- Community events: Neighbourhood celebrations, often organised by grassroots organisations, include performances, lion dances, and festive markets.
These events are generally spread across the CNY period rather than confined to the second day, but the second day often falls within the peak of the festivities.
Regional Variations
Singapore is a small, densely populated city-state, and Chinese New Year customs are broadly similar across the island. Variations tend to follow dialect-group and family traditions rather than geography. For example, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese families may have different festive dishes and customs. Neighbourhoods with larger Chinese populations, such as Chinatown, Toa Payoh, and Ang Mo Kio, may see more visible street-level festivities, but the core observances of the second day—visiting, feasting, and family reunion—are consistent nationwide.
Practical Notes
- Chinese New Year is a two-day public holiday in Singapore, so the second day is a non-working day for most people.
- Many shops and businesses close or operate reduced hours during the first two days.
- Public transport may run on adjusted schedules, and some services are reduced.
- It is customary to greet others with auspicious phrases such as "Gong Xi Fa Cai" and "Xin Nian Kuai Le."