What is Chinese New Year? What Lunar New Year means?

Kids say the cutest stuff! Jetstar Asia asked kids in Singapore to tell what Lunar New Year means, and this is what they had to say.

Chinese New Year is when the new year starts at Chinatown.

We have reunion dinners. I see my cousins, friends and relatives.

I just there at my house. I don't want to go to school.

The year of the penguin lol :)

Chinese New Year Deals for 2014 (Year of the horse)

This years Chinese New Year is traditionally greeted with many special events, deals and promotions. One of Singapore's largest deal sites, DEAL.com.sg, offers several Chinese New Year Deals this year and we have looked at some of the popular ones in this post. For the most updated list of the CNY Deals refer to this page: CNY 2014 Deals.

Only $198 for a Traditional Pen Cai (盆菜) - Pen Cai (盆菜), Big Bowl Feast, etiquette prescribes eating your way down – that is, starting from the top, and finishing it before starting on the next lower layer. In fact, the bottom layers are generally considered the most tasty and “prized”, as they consist of the best delicacies. The old saying of “the family that eats together, stays together” can be relevantly practiced with the Pen Cai as your family digs in! and reach the end together. 26 OFF and enough for 6 people from The Cathay Restaurant.

Only $88 for Chinese New Year Special Prosperity Hamper from Happy Hampy - Chinese New Year is the single most important occasion in the Chinese calendar. Families gather to reflect on a fruitful year passed and welcome a blessed and successful year ahead. It is also the time to spread the love and show appreciation through gifting. Celebrate by giving back! These hampers serve as a great token of appreciation for the office or for the special people in your life that deserves an abundance of gifts to welcome the New Year. 51% OFF with home delivery available.

Only $85.50++ for Little Swallow Nest’s 50g Triangle Bird's Nest with Free Courier Delivery - With the Chinese New Year around the corner, there is no better gift to be given to your elders, siblings, close relatives or even friends than the premium dried Bird's Nest. It is an exquisite and classy goody that will always be welcomed by the whole family. It can be enjoyed with the whole family during the reunion dinner as well. 55% OFF with free delivery.

Only $42.80 for 4 boxes Mix and Match CNY Prosperity Goodies - With 10 flavours of prosperity goodies to choose from, choosing the perfect gift for the most important people in your life during the most important time of the year, will be easy. With the added convenience of free delivery, right to your doorstep, the only dilemma you will have is what flavours to choose from. 41% OFF with Free Delivery

Only $198 for Traditional Pen Cai (盆菜) for Chinese New Year 2014

Only $69.90 for Electric Steamboat and Grill Set - Perfect for Chinese New Year gatherings, this pot body made of high quality aluminium alloy and special surface treatment helps you make cooking healthy without making it difficult to clean. Its high thermal efficiency allows rapid heat transfer as the heat pipes made of high quality materials are also safe and reliable. Transparent tempered glass lid allows you to observe your cooking easily. The anti-scald temperature handle ensure that you’re cooking safely. The pot temperature can be adjusted and also dries off automatically. This advanced technology results in a product of fine and beautiful shape. 63% OFF with free delivery.

Cash Voucher at Marina Bay Seafood - If you’re craving for seafood, then Marina Bay Seafood is just the place to be! With a wide variety of authentic seafood with over 150 dishes to choose from, curb your cravings with much satisfaction for only $50 for a $100 cash voucher!

Click here for more Chinese New Year Deals ...

Chinese New Year 2014 at Resorts World Sentosa

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is set to welcome the Year of the Horse with food fare and fun fare. Award-winning Chinese restaurants – Feng Shui Inn and Forest 森 have crafted and prepared festive dishes for guests to indulge in during this time of celebration. The Resort will also transform into a magical sight during this festive period as 3,888 custom-made lanterns light up the resort in full festive glory. Auspicious decorations will adorn the resort, including 8 lantern horses galloping along FestiveWalk and 8 lantern seahorses outside the Maritime Experiential Museum.

Resorts World Sentosa’s key attractions will also join in the festive cheer as selected characters at Universal Studios Singapore don on festive outfits and S.E.A. Aquarium extends its opening hours. A series of public activities will also take place at the world’s largest aquarium with highlights such as acrobatics and drum performances as well as underwater blessings from our divers. Guests will be fully immersed in the festive mood as they visit the Resort, be it for reunion dining or enjoying a fun-filled day at our attractions.

As a highlight of RWS’ Lunar New Year celebrations, 18,888 Hong Baos will be given out daily in the Sure Win Hong Bao Surprise. From 15 January 2014 to 14 February 2014, all guests visiting Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, and Adventure Cove Waterpark will receive Hong Baos with sure-win prizes
including one-night stay at the exclusive Ocean Suites or Tree Top Lofts, complimentary tickets to LightSeeker, as well as RWS attraction passes and dining vouchers. Guests dining at RWS’ seven F&B outlets  will also receive a Sure Win Hong Bao with a minimum spend of S$50. More than S$6 million
worth of prizes will be up for grabs.

Lunar New Year Delights
For the first time, guests looking for a unique venue for their reunion dinner can head to New York Street for Lo Hei at Universal Studios Singapore. Chefs Sam Leong and Mike Tan of Forest森 and Chef Li Kwok Kwong of Feng Shui Inn have teamed up to create an indulgent nine-course dinner menu on 30 January 2014 (除夕) and 6 February 2014 (人日). While feasting on dishes like Slow-cooked Pork Ribs Spice and Sweet Rice Vinegar Sauce, Stuffed Oyster Roll with Wild Red Grouper Goji Berry and Hair Weed, guests can top off the dinner with meet & greets as well as rides. Priced at S$98++ per person, families can choose to dine along New York Street or at Hollywood China Bistro depending on group size.

For more feasting throughout the fifteen days of the Lunar New Year, RWS also offers unique Lo Hei
options, celebratory reunion menus and scrumptious festive goodies. Chef Li gives the Yu Sheng a stallion twist this year, with meticulous plating to resemble the shape of a horse. This symbolises ‘galloping’ towards a bright future (马到功成) for diners and features a medley of refreshingly sharp flavours and colours with cubic sized salmon, crispy-skinned mackerel and silver fish as well as strips of bak kwa. Livened up with Italian balsamic vinegar or mint dressing, this dish is a bountiful combination of unique taste and textures.

Valentine’s Day 2014

With the last day of the Lunar New Year coinciding with Valentine’s Day, there is even more reason to celebrate this day of reunion and love. S.E.A. Aquarium will be putting a romantic spin to its Ocean Dreams sleepover programme for couples seeking a night out “under the sea”. Couples will not only enjoy a VIP tour of the world’s largest aquarium and dine in front of the world’s largest acrylic panel, but also tuck in for the night with more than 50,000 marine animals in sight. Other packages including a stay in Equarius Hotel with dolphin interaction or indulgence at ESPA are also available.

For more information on Chinese New Year 2014 in Resorts World Sentosa take a look at this press release : Resorts World Sentosa rides into the Year of the Horse with giveaways and festive decorations.

Chinese New Year 2014 at Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands presents a string of shopping, dining and entertainment specials for Chinese New Year of Horse in 2014 from blockbuster museum exhibition Dinosaurs: Dawn to Extinction to well-loved Broadway
musical My Fair Lady, gourmet feasts and attractive gifts with purchase, visitors are in for a celebratory reunion.

“Fortune Swipe and Win” with a total of $150,000 worth in prizes 

From 30 January to 9 February 2014, all visitors at Marina Bay Sands stand a chance to win a total of $150,000 worth in prizes1 when they sign up for a free membership Sands Rewards LifeStyle. A total of 188 winners will be announced daily. 

As members of Sands Rewards LifeStyle, guests enjoy discounts, parking privileges, as well as instant rewards of three per cent in destination dollars on all nett purchases, which can be redeemed at over 175 at Sands Rewards LifeStyle programme outlets, including luxury boutiques, celebrity chef restaurants, hotel stays and entertainment.

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Shop and win limited edition gifts at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 

In celebration of the spring festival, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands presents ‘Blossoms of Bliss’ from 16 January to 16 February. Shoppers who spend a minimum of S$188 can redeem an exclusive Mandarin Blossoms scent reed diffuser specially created for The Shoppes by Mt. Sapola, as well as Marina Bay Sands red packets. In addition, shoppers stand a chance to win eight limited edition LIULI crystal horse sculptures (worth S$2,600 each) on the first two days of Chinese New Year (31 January and 1 February). 

From 10 January to 16 February, The Shoppes presents a special exhibition of LIULI crystal Horses and Flowers of Spring at the Grand Colonnade South, Bay Level (L1) amidst melodic Chinese orchestra performances starting 24 January to 16 February, from 7pm to 9pm on Fridays, and 12.30pm-2.30pm and 5pm-7pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 

All boutiques and restaurants at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will be operating as usual throughout Chinese New Year from 10am to 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Chinese New Year 2014 at Marina Bay Sands

Feast with an Oriental flair 

Celebrity chef restaurant db Bistro Moderne is also joining in the Chinese New Year celebrations with a special family-styled dinner menu crafted by Executive Chef Jonathan Kinsella. The menu features the popular Seafood Platter (oysters, lobster, shrimp and razor clams), Boston Lobster & Black Pepper Mee as well as the succulent Roast Stuffed Suckling Pig with gratin dauphinois, wild mushrooms, garlic baby kalian and butternut squash. Diners can also round up the meal with the Baked Alaska, a sweetly satisfying desert with almond biscuit, caramelised white chocolate and mandarin sorbet. The Chinese New Year menu is 

available from 30 January to 2 February.

This Chinese New Year, SweetSpot will also present festive treats created by Executive Pastry Chef Ryan Witcher. For a deliciously refreshing and creamy treat, guests can indulge in the Cheesecake (S$9) with mango, lime breton and fresh pomelo, or the Mandarin (S$2.70), an almond macaron filled with candied mandarin ganache. 

The traditional Chinese New Year favourites at SweetSpot - the Cookie Trio (S$15) featuring dried prawn rolls, green pea cookies and Kueh Bangkit cookies - also make perfect gifts to take home this Chinese New Year. 

Guests can purchase these items from SweetSpot at Hotel Tower 3 Lobby from 23 January to 14 February.

Restaurants at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will also be serving up exclusive Chinese New Year set menus. From 16 January to 16 February, the all-time favourite Au Chocolat will be presenting a set menu starting from S$38++ per pax, while Chinese restaurant Jin Shan  will also be dishing out an exclusive Lunar New Year set menu perfect for families over the same period from S$188++ per pax.

Enjoy a cultural respite at the museum and theatres 

Come 25 January, Dinosaurs: Dawn to Extinction will open at ArtScience Museum to visitors from all over the world for the first time in Southeast Asia. Occupying over 3,700 square metres of floor space, the exhibition will feature more than 400 fossils, over 50 original artworks and more than 490 models. 

Through a timeline thread, visitors will be transported more than 600 million years back in time to learn the unique story of what came before and after the dinosaurs, and gain a deeper understanding on how these species evolved and adapted to changing environmental conditions. 

Over at the MasterCard Theatres, award-winning Broadway musical My Fair Lady opens February to the delight of all musical lovers. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1912 play Pygmalion, My Fair Lady will transport audiences to Edwardian London to witness one of the most beautiful stories ever told about language and clash of cultures. The musical runs until 23 February. 

Witness splendid fireworks display around Marina Bay 

Visitors are in for a visual treat this Chinese New Year all around Marina Bay, with the Sands SkyPark and Event Plaza being two of the many vantage points to witness the splendid fireworks display by the River Hong Bao 2014. The annual festive celebration located on The Float@Marina Bay will be launching spectacular fireworks displays on 29 and 30 January.