Culture Vulture

One of the best things about studying abroad is getting to understand and observe different cultures. This is a specifically culture driven time of year with Chinese New Year being just around the corner. Through different events and speaking to classmates I`ve learned a lot about the traditions of Chinese New Year.

Two weeks ago I attended the lighting ceremonies to kick off the Chinese New Year in Chinatown. This ceremony included illuminating the decorations and they had performances by acrobats, lion dancers, hip hop dancers, etc. This was all complemented with fireworks and firecrackers (don`t get them confused!). We knew it had to be good when the President of Singapore arrived to take in the festivities.

Yesterday, I had the chance to take in another Chinese New Year event, the 9th Annual International Lion Dance Competition. The competition was comprised of 8 teams from all over Southeast Asia. It is hard to put into words the extraordinary talent that was at the competition. Here is a taste of what the competition had to offer.

In 2 weeks Chinese New Year will be celebrated, with public holidays on Monday and Tuesday. The city is in full Chinese New Year swing, with decorations everywhere and selling of goodies and gifts for the new year. 

On top of Chinese New Year, yesterday was also Thaipusam happening right at my doorstep in Little India. This Hindu ritual, sees people carrying milk pots or attaching "kavadis" and spikes pierced on their body as offerings. The people take a long walk to the temple, in which they are followed by their family. This website can do a better job of explaining the traditions better than I can. 

I`ve really enjoyed learning and being a part of the cultural experiences and look forward to observing others that are to come!