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 Filipinos celebrated the Chinese New year yesterday by visiting Binondo to enjoy special performances, such as the Dragon dances and fireworks, and shopped Chinese foods and goods, such as the much-loved tikoy. This comparison reveals how Chinese New Year, while rooted in shared traditions, adapts and evolves as it travels across borders, reflecting the beautiful diversity of cultures that celebrate it. Each country adds its own unique touch, creating a vibrant tapestry of customs and traditions that enrich the global celebration of this joyous occasion. If you’re planning to go to Binondo to check out the sights or celebrate with your Filipino-Chinese friends, here are 8 Chinese New Year traditions in the Philippines to familiarize yourself with so you can join in the celebration the right way. 1. Lion and dragon dance – signals roaring beginnings. 2. 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. In the Philippines, Chinese New Year is more than just a calendar event; it’s a celebration of diversity, unity, and the rich tapestry of cultural influences that define the nation. Lunar New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Philippines, particularly in Filipino-Chinese communities. These vibrant festivities are primarily centered in Manila’s Binondo district, which boasts the distinction of being the world’s oldest Chinatown. Filipino and Chinese peoples share a centuries-old bond, connected through years of migration, trade, and cultural exchange. This vibrant tapestry is especially evident during Chinese New Year, a festival that explodes with color, sound, and mouthwatering flavors in China and the Philippines. 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 Although the Filipino-Chinese comprise a small portion of the population, under the Aquino administration, the Philippines began celebrating the Chinese New Year as a non-working holiday in Chinese people all over the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year. Since the Diaspora, the Chinese have become prominent members of almost every country’s population. In the Philippines, the Chinese have greatly influenced every aspect of Filipino culture. So is Chinese New Year a holiday in the Philippines? Click to see more about Chinese New Year date. 5. Why Do the Chinese Call Chinese New Year 'Spring Festival'? Chinese New Year always falls within half a month of 'Start of Spring' (beginning February 4), the first of the 24 solar terms of China's traditional solar calendar. 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 Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines celebrate Lunar New Year every year in hope of attracting prosperity, closer family ties and peace. Most Filipino-Chinese families usually clean their homes thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red envelopes, serve sweet foods and display various food and fruits on a table, which is believed to Celebrating Chinese New Year as a holiday was not so popular until the late 1990s to early 2000s. Eventually, it developed into a national holiday granted by presidential decree. Much like how Christians lament the commercialization of Christmas, Chinese New Year in the Philippines is fast losing that battle as well. Advertisement Working in Philippines during Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is a special non-working holiday, which means that it is not a paid holiday, but if employees do work on the day then they are entitled to 30 percent extra pay for the hours worked. What cultures celebrate ChineseRead More → 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 Since the mid-1990s people in China have been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year. This week of relaxation has been designated Spring Festival, a term that is sometimes used to refer to the Chinese New Year in general. The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years MANILA, Philippines – Chinese New Year is considered the most important festival for the Filipino-Chinese. The Philippines is home to a large Filipino-Chinese community, constituting about 20% of the total population. Last year was the first time that Chinese New Year was declared a special non Singaporeans celebrate Lunar New Year as one of the most auspicious holidays of the year, as well. Because there is such a big Chinese community in Singapore, many of the same cultural
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