Today, Chinese New Year celebrations in the Philippines reflect a harmonious blend of Chinese and Filipino customs. Some of the most iconic practices include: Dragon and Lion Dances: A staple of Chinese New Year festivities, these performances are believed to chase away evil spirits and bring good luck. In the Philippines, these dances are not As we celebrate the longstanding fusion of Filipino and Chinese cultures during Chinese New Year, these Chinese New Year traditions are great reminders of how rich and diverse our heritage is. During the festivities, we get to honor our ancestors and foster a deeper sense of community and connection. This is one of the reasons why even non-Tsinoys celebrate Chinese New Year. While the more traditional Chinese New Year customs—like the dragon and lion dances, the noodle toss, among others—continue to be practiced by Filipino-Chinese families and even in some commercial establishments (hotels and restaurants), these are not observed by many. Chinese Filipinos celebrate the Lunar New Year in January or February. The government has designated it a special non-working day. CHINESE-FILIPINO TRADITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. The food most fondly looked forward to during Chinese New Year in the Philippines is tikoy, a treat made from sticky rice. You can buy it from stores The Filipino embrace of Chinese New Year traditions reflects centuries of cultural exchange, driven by the significant Chinese-Filipino (Tsinoy) population whose ancestors introduced these customs. Themes of luck, prosperity, and familial harmony align with Filipino values, making the traditions meaningful and widely celebrated. The celebration begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, so it is also called Lunar New Year, and it is considered the beginning of spring, so it is also called Spring Festival. The Chinese Zodiac refers to the year 2012 as the Year of the Water Dragon. Sources: PhilStar, Chinese Culture Ringing in the New Year with a display of fireworks and the popping of firecrackers is a custom observed by both Filipino and Filipino-Chinese communities during the Chinese New Year celebrations. The Lunar New Year celebration, known as the Chinese New Year, is one of the most important festivals of the Filipino-Chinese community. During this time, the community comes together to celebrate with family and friends, offering traditional food such as Tikoy and engaging in cultural practices such as feng shui. 6. Visiting temples and shrines. Filipino-Chinese families often visit temples to pray for blessings, health, and success in the coming year. Offerings such as incense, fruits, and food are made The Chinese New Year 2025, falling on Wednesday, January 29, ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake. This much-anticipated celebration marks the start of a new lunar year and holds deep cultural significance for Chinese communities around the world. In the Philippines, where Chinese traditions have And while the Chinese community in the Philippines only makes up 5% of the country’s total population, the Lunar New Year is still one of the most awaited events here. How Filipinos celebrate Lunar New Year: Traditions and superstitions Most Filipinos flock to Binondo in Manila for the Lunar New Year. In the Philippines, Chinese New Year traditions always include lots of good food, and even people who don’t celebrate the holiday look forward to the dishes they can expect during the festivities. The most popular of these Filipino Chinese New Year foods is the “Chinese New Year’s cake,” made of glutinous rice, called the tikoy in Why do people spend to celebrate Filipino Chinese traditions for the Lunar New Year even when gatherings and expenses for Christmas have just finished? Over the decades, Filipino Chinese traditions for Lunar New Year have become more evident, especially during the age of social media. It is celebrated with a huge feast of pancit, palabok, baboy, Filipino spaghetti, and lumpia to name a few. It is a celebration as grand as Lunar New Year. The Philippines does celebrate Lunar New Year, but most who celebrate are Chinese-Filipinos, or those who also have Chinese ancestral roots. Lune New Year is primarily celebrated in many Asian cultures, including by Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino and Indonesian. Each culture has its own name for the The Significance of Lunar New Year in the Philippines. Chinese New Year holds deep cultural and social significance in the Philippines: Cultural Identity: For the Filipino-Chinese community, the celebrations are a powerful way to connect with their heritage and strengthen their cultural identity. It’s a time to pass down traditions to younger Most Pinoys don't celebrate CNY, we mostly watch dragon dance performances, fireworks and the like to celebrate. If you plan to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the Philippines, it would probably be a good idea to visit Binondo, Manila during the festivities. Binondo is the oldest China town in the world. Ongpin street will be alive with Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. MANILA, Philippines — Hanabishi Appliances Finance and Marketing Vice President Cherish Ong-Chua reflected on the traditions Filipino-Chinese families celebrate to ring in the Lunar New Year. Why does Chinese New Year fall on different dates? South Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino and Indonesian. How to celebrate Lunar New Year.
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