Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a major holiday in Singapore and is celebrated with great fanfare and enthusiasm. One of the key elements of the celebrations is the use of decorations, which play a significant role in creating a festive atmosphere.

In Singapore, several popular decorations are commonly seen during Chinese New Year, including red lanterns, paper cuttings, and couplets. These decorations are believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to households and businesses.

In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most popular Chinese New Year decorations in Singapore and the symbolism behind them.

8 Common and Traditional Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore

In Singapore, Chinese New Year is a popular and important holiday that is celebrated by many people of Chinese descent.  To celebrate the start of the new lunar year, many people in Singapore decorate their homes and businesses with a variety of traditional and popular decorations.

These decorations are meant to bring luck and prosperity for the coming year and often include red lanterns, paper cuttings, and intricate floral arrangements. The festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year can be seen all over the city, from the bustling Chinatown neighborhood to the quiet residential streets.

Chinese New Year decorations are typically put up a few weeks before the new year and are left up until the end of the holiday, which is typically around the 15th day of the first lunar month. There are a variety of traditional decorations that are commonly used to celebrate the holiday. Some popular Chinese New Year decorations in Singapore include:

  1. Red Lanterns

    Red lanterns are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
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    Red lanterns are a traditional decoration for the Chinese New Year. The color red is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits, so red lanterns are often used to decorate homes, streets, and public spaces during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

    Red lanterns come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from small lanterns that can be hung in windows or on doors to large, elaborate lantern displays that are set up in public squares and other prominent locations. Many red lanterns are also decorated with intricate patterns and symbols, such as dragons or other mythical creatures, which are believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

  2. Red and Gold Decorations

    Red and gold decroations are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
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    Red and gold are traditional colors used in Chinese New Year decorations. Red is believed to be a lucky color in Chinese culture, and is often associated with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune. Gold, on the other hand, represents wealth and abundance. Together, red and gold are thought to bring good luck and prosperity to the home.

  3. Flowers

    Flowers are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
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    In Chinese culture, flowers are an important part of the New Year celebration and are often used for decoration. These flowers are associated with prosperity and good fortune, particularly orchids and chrysanthemums. Other common flowers that are used for this occasion are kumquats, peonies, and bamboo.

  4. Chinese New Year Couplets

    Chinese New Year couplets are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
    Picture source: https://unsplash.com/photos/ct58n7B6WbI

    Chinese New Year couplets, also known as “duilian” in Chinese, are a traditional form of decoration used to celebrate the Chinese New Year. They are typically displayed in pairs on either side of doors or windows and are written in calligraphy on red paper or fabric.

    The couplets consist of two lines of poetry or prose that rhyme and are meant to convey good wishes and blessings for the new year. The couplets often contain themes related to prosperity, happiness, and good fortune, and are believed to bring good luck to the home.

    They are typically written in both traditional Chinese characters and simplified Chinese characters to make them more easily understandable to a wider audience.

  5. Chinese Zodiac Animals

    Chinese zodiac animals are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
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    Chinese New Year decorations often include symbols and images of Chinese zodiac animals. These decorations can be found in the form of paper cuttings, paintings, lanterns, and other decorative items.

    They are often used to decorate homes, businesses, and public spaces during the Chinese New Year celebrations. The zodiac animals are also often depicted on gifts and other items that are given as New Year’s presents.

  6. Fu Characters

    Fu characters are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
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    The Fu character is a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune and prosperity. It is often seen during Chinese New Year celebrations as a decorative element on lanterns, red envelopes, and other festive items.The Fu character is written using the Chinese character 福, which is pronounced “” in Mandarin Chinese.

    The character is made up of two parts: the top part, which represents the roof of a house, and the bottom part, which represents an opening. The combination of these two elements is meant to symbolize the idea of good fortune entering the home.

    During Chinese New Year, it is common to see the Fu character displayed prominently in homes and businesses as a way to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

  7. Chinese New Year Paintings

    Chinese New Year paintings are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
    Picture source: https://unsplash.com/photos/HKxqlQiFu-A

    Chinese New Year paintings are a popular form of artistic expression that is used to decorate homes and public spaces during the holiday. These paintings often depict auspicious symbols and motifs that are believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.

    Common themes in Chinese New Year paintings include red and gold colors, dragons, phoenixes, fish, and the Chinese zodiac. The paintings can be created using a variety of media, including ink and brush on paper, oil or acrylic on canvas.

  8. Red Knots
    Red knots are popular Chinese New Year Decorations in Singapore
    Picture source: https://unsplash.com/photos/St4qInZrYC4

    Red knots, or “lucky knots,” are a traditional Chinese New Year decoration. They are made by tying red ribbons or cords into intricate, decorative knots. The red color is believed to symbolize good luck and prosperity in Chinese culture. Red knots are often hung in doorways, on windows, or on walls as a way to bring good fortune to a home or business.

    They are also sometimes given as gifts to friends and family. In addition to being a decorative element, red knots are also thought to have a symbolic meaning, representing the binding of good luck and happiness for the coming year.

Chinese New Year decorations play an important role in the celebration of the holiday in Singapore. These decorations can be seen in homes, businesses, and public spaces throughout the country as people come together to celebrate the start of the new year.

Whether they are traditional or modern, these decorations help to create a festive atmosphere and bring joy to those who participate in the celebration. Other than decorating your home, it’s also common to give CNY hampers or gift baskets to your friends and family as a way to express your joy and gratitude during the Chinese New Year celebration.

No need to search further for great CNY gifts! You can simply slide through FlowerAdvisor Singapore’s website for a wide selection of premium CNY hampers and gift baskets. Moreover, we also provide a custom arrangement and same-day delivery service!

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