Rear view of woman standing against various Chinese New Year decorations and ornaments on city street (Photo: Getty Images)
Cover A woman standing against various Chinese New Year decorations and ornaments (Photo: Getty Images)

A wealth of Chinese New Year traditions and customs vary widely in different regions. Here’s how five communities worldwide are ringing in the Year of the Wood Dragon.

From Singapore to Vancouver, communities worldwide are preparing to celebrate the Chinese New Year. 

Each locale adds its unique flair to the celebration. However, the essence remains the same. A typical festivity may involve several parades, dragon dances, and colourful decorations. Still, it is important to acknowledge that the holiday is a perfect opportunity to reunite with loved ones. It is an occasion where family members come together to honour ancestors, exchange well wishes, and even indulge in traditional feasts. 

Join Tatler on a journey across continents as we offer a glimpse into the traditions celebrated by the Chinese diaspora. 

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Singapore

Tatler Asia
Fireworks celebrating Chinese New year in Singapore after Chingay (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Fireworks celebrating Chinese New year in Singapore after Chingay (Photo: Getty Images)

Chingay is one of Asia’s largest street parades—and a colourful feast for the eyes, featuring various live performances with intricate props and fireworks. The festival was established to compensate for the Singapore government’s ban on firecrackers, a traditional Chinese New Year practice meant to ward away evil spirits. The 2024 Chingay showcase will revolve around the theme “Blossom”, signifying community growth and camaraderie.

Malaysia

Tatler Asia
Kek Lok Si Temple with fireworks during Chinese New Year (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Kek Lok Si Temple with fireworks during Chinese New Year (Photo: Getty Images)

Kek Lok Si Temple on Penang Island, Southeast Asia's largest and oldest Buddhist temple, lights up with thousands of lanterns and neon fixtures. At the centre of the complex stands the tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, a spellbinding sight to behold amidst the glow of lights.

New York City

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People celebrate the Chinese New Year in the street of Chinatown, New York City (Photo: Getty Images)
Above People celebrate the Chinese New Year in the street of Chinatown, New York City (Photo: Getty Images)

The city that never sleeps goes all out with a massive parade in Chinatown, where festivities include traditional lion dances and the lighting of six hundred thousand firecrackers to ward off malicious energy. New Yorkers usually partake in a wide variety of traditional delicacies, and dim sum at a tried and true, family-owned restaurant is usually a favoured choice.

See also: The best Chinese restaurants in the Tatler Dining Guide 2023

Vancouver

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A gold dragon mask displayed during the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown, Vancouver (Photo: Getty Images)
Above A gold dragon mask displayed during the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown, Vancouver (Photo: Getty Images)

The Spring Festival Parade entails a three-thousand-person procession that makes its way from Millennium Gate towards Chinatown. Art, food and cocktails flood the streets of Vancouver in a celebration that lasts for 16 days, from the eve of the Lunar New Year to the day of the Lantern Festival.

 

Manila

In Manila’s Chinatown, the oldest of its kind, vendors line the streets selling boxes upon boxes of tikoy, traditional Chinese New Year pudding. Tikoy is often moulded into the shape of koi fish, as it is the symbol of longevity and success. Filipinos like to flavour their tikoy with ube, turning the dessert into a delicious purple.

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