Chinese New Year 2013 Shopping in Chinatown

Flower shopping for Chinese New Year at Chinatown in 1957

A celebration of an important Chinese festival in Singapore

Soak up the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year at the two-month-long celebrations held at Chinatown. Check out the traditional decorations, greetings and goodies like marinated dried meats and pineapple tarts that abound at the festive street bazaar. There is also an exciting line-up of street performances including lion dances and the blazing pyrotechnics that are definitely not to be missed.

Celebrate one of the longest and most important Chinese festivals in Singapore in the heart of an exciting ethnic enclave. During this festive season, the streets of Chinatown come alive in bright colours, festooned with gorgeous decorations.

Look forward to a plethora of activities such as thrilling dragon and lion dance performances, a night bazaar hawking local goods and delicacies, stage shows and, of course, the ever-popular firecrackers and fireworks to usher in the Year of The Snake.

Take in the visual feast of the annual street light-up in Chinatown from 19 January to 11 March 2013. In addition, do not miss the official light-up ceremony on 19 January 2013, where a street parade at Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road will boast performances by a variety of local and international artistes. At the same location, be sure to also catch the Chinese New Year countdown event on 9 February 2013.

From 18 January to 9 February 2013, check out the festive street bazaar, an oriental wonderland which allows you to shop at more than 500 stalls. Pick up goodies such as waxed duck, barbecued sweet meats, cookies, fresh flowers, Chinese calligraphy prints, opera masks, and traditional new year decorations at the bazaar.

There are also entertaining nightly cultural performances at Kreta Ayer Square from 19 January to 9 February 2013, such as Chinese opera shows and the annual international lion dance competition on 26 and 27 January 2013 which will showcase top talents from around the region such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, China and the Philippines.

Source: What's On at YourSingapore  - Chinatown Chinese New Year 2013 celebration.

Shopping of flowers and home decoration at Chinatown for Chinese New Year  in the Past

The scenes of Chinese New Year shopping at Chinatown in the 1980s and 1990s.  The photos of the streets and buildings to spot the difference at the various times in Chinatown.

Another way to spot the difference from the hairdo, footwear and dressing fashions of the shoppers.

Roadside food stalls are parked in the centre of the road to serve the shoppers during the day.

The plastic "Chūnlián (春聯) plastic decoration imported from China.

The five foot-way  "Chūnlián" (春聯) calligrapher in 1990 is a vanishing trade.

The popular traditional flowers for Chinese New Year decorated at the homes and offices for decades.

Pussy Willow

Peach Blossom

Narcissus Flowers in bloom during Chinese New Year

Kumquat plants for good luck

The "topless" pomelo seller serving his customer in Chinatown in 1991.

 Shopping of flowers and home decoration for Chinese New Year in Singapore

Chinese New Year shopping in Singapore today is found in the heartlands, Waterloo Street, shopping complexes and everywhere convenient.  However, the traditional shopping places for Chinese New Year are centralised in Chinatown for decades.

Note:  Archived photos of Chinatown on this blog the courtesy of National Archives of Singapore with thanks and acknowledgement.