Chinese New Year—a festive time for Chinese to break the diet, finally come around to KonMarie-ing the house, shop for comfy shoes to see you through (pre-Covid) days packed with countless visitations and, for the young(er) ones, to brush up on the proper Chinese New Year greetings in Mandarin and how to address your relatives correctly.
Since Covid-19 has forced everything to a slower pace, it’s an opportune time to dive into a refresher on Chinese New Year customs and traditions. And yes, if you’re looking for the best food and CNY goodies—a huge, huge deal to Singaporeans—for Chinese New Year 2021, you’ve come to the right place. Read on!
• CNY 2021: Quick Facts
• Getting prepped for Chinese New Year 2021
• CNY Celebrations — The Feasts
• Bring on the Bak Kwa, CNY Cookies & More!
• Ang Pow Rates & Other CNY 2021 Essential Info
CNY 2021: Quick Facts
Q. When is Chinese New Year 2021?
A. Chinese New Year falls on the 12 February 2021, a Friday. Celebrations, however, begin with the customary family reunion dinner on Chinese New Year Eve.
Both 12 and 13 February are public holidays in Singapore. Public service announcement: If you haven’t already, apply for leave on Monday, 15 February 2021, to get an extra-long CNY weekend!
Q. Why is it the Year of the Ox?
A. Chinese legend has it that animals took part in a divine race to be named among 12 animals in the zodiac. The Ox was the frontrunner but the sneaky Rat, which hitched a ride atop the Ox, jumped off at the last second to cross the finishing line first. As such, the year of the Ox is the second year in the 12-year cycle in the Chinese zodiac. The years also cycle through a set of five elements—Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal—and Chinese New Year 2021 will be a year of the Metal Ox.
Q. What does it mean to be born in the Year of the Ox?
A. We know the Ox to be a tough and essential farmyard animal. It follows that those born in the Year of the Ox are dependable, diligent and determined. They are hardworking and never back down from a challenge. Faithful and trustworthy, they make good leaders and friends. However, they may display a Taurean traits in that they can sometimes be stubborn. As the legend goes, they are pretty trusting—so if you’re an Ox, choose who you have around you carefully!
Those born in 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009—give and take a month or so—have the Ox as their Zodiac Sign.
