At the event, people release a ton of paper lanterns into the night sky, which usually have wishes or prayers written in Chinese on them. Originally a local Taiwanese custom, the festival gained wider recognition in the recent decades and now attracts much more attention.
Chinese New Year is celebrated to welcome a fresh start and wish for good luck in the coming year. Families come together to honor traditions that have been held dear for generations, as well as remember their ancestors and spend time with the people closest to them. A lot of the customs, like giving envelopes with small amounts of money or eating certain foods, are thought to bring happiness, health, and prosperity. The celebration is also a way for people to keep their culture alive and pass traditions down to the younger generations.
In Singapore, as well as many other locations in Southeast Asia, warm weather allows many celebrations to happen outside, like street markets, parades, and decorations hanging across streets. Because Singapore has a large Chinese community, the holiday is celebrated across the whole city with lights and events. Traditions like lantern festivals, including the Pingxi Lantern Festival, also connect people to their surroundings by using open spaces and the night sky to create beautiful celebrations.
