When the pandemic forced Xu Yan to spend her first Spring Festival away from her hometown in China, she never expected to find such vibrant Lunar New Year energy in Singapore’s bustling Chinatown. 🏮 From dragon-themed decorations to pineapple tarts that went viral on TikTok, here’s how this expat redefined “home” for the holidays.
Tradition Meets Lion City Flair
Xu, a marketing specialist who moved to Singapore in 2020, told NewspaperAmigo.com: “The red lanterns and mandarin trees made me feel connected to my roots—but with a twist I’d never see back home.” She pointed to fusion dishes like Yu Sheng salad (a prosperity toss that’s bigger than Squid Game’s dalgona challenge!) and ang pao packets featuring local cartoon icons.
Chinatown’s COVID-Safe Carnival
While crowds were smaller due to safety measures, Singapore’s celebrations blended tech and tradition: QR code couplets, AR zodiac animal filters, and contactless lion dance performances. 🦁💻 Xu laughed: “I video-called my parents while buying dried oysters—they said it looked like a Marvel movie version of our festival!”
The New Normal of Nostalgia
As 72% of Singapore residents identify as ethnically Chinese, the island’s Lunar New Year customs—from Hokkien opera streams to GrabFood delivery of reunion feasts—show how traditions evolve in multicultural hubs. For Xu, the experience proved that “festive spirit doesn’t need a passport.” ✈️❤️
