Guest Author - Taisha Turner

The city of Singapore in Southeast Asia will celebrate the Chinese New Year. The festival goes by many names: Lunar New Year, Spring Festival or Chun Jie. Whatever the name used, fun is there for all.

The streets are strung with lights giving the nights a magical air. Firecrackers light the sky. There are street performers, street parades with floats. Chinatown has an annual open air night market. And on the riverside, a carnival takes place.

The Chinese New Year is a time of renewal, to erase past mistakes and misfortunes. It is a time of reaffirmation of family and kinship ties. Wishes and prayers for happiness and prosperity for mankind abound.

The Singapore River HongBoa is a riverside party. Here the revelers party in the New Year. The Chingay Parade of Dreams is as it name states, dreamlike.

The year 2005 is the Year of the Green Wooden Rooster. Green is the color of hope and spring. Also, it represents youth and money, so wear green clothing for luck. It is considered not wise to eat chicken or other poultry for meals during these 15 days of the Chinese New Year celebration. Do not eat the good luck bird!

The year 2006 is the Year of the Dog.

Singapore has many activities planned for the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. Plan to party until dawn.

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