New Year, New Luck

    Chinese New Year is one of the basic annual celebrations in the Philippines that have found themselves embedded in the history and culture of the land. For centuries, the Filipino-Chinese communities have been part of Philippine society, wreathed around the complex weaves of Filipino culture. Traditionally, all their festivals including Chinese New Year celebrations have been generally embraced by the wider Filipino populace, thereby becoming a national celebration.

    The festivities are rich in activities that stand for prosperity and fortune. For example, families clean their houses all across the land in order to welcome good vibes and bake sweet meats and put out fruits like oranges and apples, which are said to bring wealth and peace. The giving away of red packets called "ang pao," filled with money meant as blessings for the new year, has traditionally been something cherished.

    Along with these give or take traditions, Chinese New Year in the Philippines is a family reunion and community gathering. The dragon or lion dances, parades, and other celebrations are meant to celebrate Chinese ancestry and at the same time bring Filipinos from differing backgrounds together. These celeb
rations are thus a living synergy of culture between that of the Chinese and the Filipinos, both of whom share overlapping values and traditions that enrich the identity of the nation. 

Lunar New Year’s Day 2025 in Philippines. (n.d.). https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/lunar-new-year-day

De Ramos, B. (2025, January 30). Chinese New Year in the Philippines: a unique blend of global and local traditions. Penbrothers. https://penbrothers.com/blog/chinese-new-year-philippines/

Marie. (2025, January 28). Celebrating Chinese New Year: How Filipinos commemorate the annual affair. KUBO. https://kubo.com.ph/celebrating-chinese-new-year-in-the-philippines/

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