| New Year in Chinatown |
While Singapore is home to many races, we house a significant amount of ethnic Chinese, leading to cultural landmarks such as Chinatown. In Chinese, Singapore’s Chinatown is called “牛车水”, as historically, residents would use oxen to pull carts carrying water around the area. However, I’ve always confused the name “牛车水” with the Chinese idiom “车水马龙” – literally meaning the carts are “flowing like water”, and the horses pulling them just like wandering dragons – figuratively describing a bustling and flourishing area. Combining back to Chinatown during Chinese New Year, I find the two Chinese phrases similar in essence. While Chinatown remains more cemented in our memory as a heritage attraction, behind its stripped-back commercial facade are vibrant glimpses of human connection and interaction. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, you’ll see bustling streets full of tourist trinkets, tables full of New Year Snacks selling at amazingly low prices, and restaurant tables crowded with different delicacies. In such a vibrant place on the eve of the Lunar New Year, you can’t help but exclaim – this is what life looks like.
Good Fortune and a Prosperous New Year
Along the rows and crosses of vendors are tables and racks ladened with New Year Decorations. On New Year’s eve, they shine the brightest, tempting every visitor to make a last minute impulse purchase before they expire past their intended time.
The “福” character, meaning blessing, or good fortune, is one of the quintessential parts of
New Year’s decoration. Although these are largely overprices decorative papers, to hang one on your door is to carry to tradition of inviting good luck for the following year.
As a young man and his friends browse through a selection of “福” writings, hope and anticipation for the New Year is written on their faces – what do they wish for? Fortune? Health? Love? Among the crowds of shoppers, it is hard to discern, but I wish them well.
Last Minute Bargains and Sales
Piles and piles of cheap jellies, traditional crackers, and little toys are heaped across the stall that is almost buried by the lavish spread of goods. As a crowd of shoppers gather, intrigued by the cheap bargains (10 SGD for 2 bags of crackers! Clearance Sales!), the shopkeeper yells out deal after deal.
Three bags for 51 SGD! I’ll throw a fourth one in for free! His face takes on a red sheen from the lights and the exertion, but his aggressive bargains draw in customer after customer.
Similarly, other shopkeepers do the same – the faster they clear out the stock, the faster they can go home to celebrate the New Year. This is truly the sale of the year, and their voices shine the brightest amidst the haggling and bustling.
忙里偷闲 – a Moment of Respite
Among the chaotic energy of the markets at night, storeowners borrow a few moments of quiet for themselves.
Scattered Moments
4 responses to “”
-
chinatown is a must visit place during chinese new year!
-
Such joyful moments captured in lenses forever. I would love to see your photography of other regions of the World too. I will stay tuned for that!
-
The author captured the moments/excitement of the last minute deals, especially post midnight, with the various vendors shouting the discounts/bargain!
-
joyful china town ; ) yeah!
Leave a Reply