At last, I have the opportunity to post my thoughts on this blog again. This one would be another short note, mainly ruminated during the last EL2 class in which I didn't get many chances to speak about my ideas.
There is a popular view that the Singaporeans regard CNY as only a break from their hectic life. Celebrations and ceremonials, such as Lion Dance, are rather considered as mere communal activities, if not tourist attractions. This quirky and rather hasty critique on Singaporeans seems to be another reflection of common cynical image of the people of this rapidly growing first world country. Indeed, foreigners, especially from countries who still acknowledge the importance of festivals to the level of the symbolic meaning, such as China and Japan, would likely remark on the apparently indifferent festive attitude of the Singaporeans. Having said that, such contrast can be argued as the gist of the problem. Hence, the differences lie on the socio-cultural environment in Singapore, not some particular inherited traits of the people.
Firstly, Singapore's lack of territory has already cornered the possibility to hold a grandeur celebration. As we know, CNY requires majestic show off of prosperity and hope for the auspicious following year, symbolized in the giving of 'hangbao' and parade of fireworks. Unfortunately, the size of Singapore as a mainly sole island has fixed the proportion of public facilities to amusement area. Marches of lanterns and Lion dancers are supposedly implemented so that the villagers can roam across the neighbor villages and spread the filial greetings. There are no such contours of land in Singapore; even Bukit Timah is used for natural reserves. Blowing up various sparks in the air would threaten the stiff metropolitan buildings and airplanes, as well as hindrance to military defence, which is the pillar of Singapore's primary survival.
In the smaller scope, HDB system has reorganized each family in Singapore to be mostly nuclear family. While the essence of CNY is to gather and celebrate together with the grand family, many Singaporeans have their relatives apart in other countries. Either Malaysia or Hong Kong would be the same. Traveling with any means would cost, something that the Singaporeans are widely aware of. The nearest choice is to swipe the food in the nearby night markets and cook them. Otherwise, restaurant and fast food centers are largely available in this land of investment. With the most prominent tradition of CNY, feasting together with family, fulfilled by those considerably adaptive circumstances, the Singaporeans' mindset of a gargantuan family loiter has dwindled to be as narrow as a HDB flat.
There's a saying that one burger, not two, is enough to make your stomach not empty. The Western influence in Singapore is relatively stronger than any other Asian countries whose natives are far from having brown hair and blue eyes. The phrase of 'New Year' in Chinese New Year has figuratively, and almost literally, been taken by the January the first New Year. The Chinese New Year celebration, which is regulated by a complicated system of Chinese traditional solar-lunar calendar, has incidentally fallen around January to February, which is approximately 20-40 days from the 'formal' New Year. Hence, the spirit, the resolutions and the spiritual need for the celebration has already faded. People do not need the gap between 'New Years' to be as short as 20-40 days, since in this swift modern life, they intend to care for more physical and material issues.
Chinese New Year is still a new year, but its main purpose has been largely forgotten. Singaporeans, though many of them are direct descendants from the mainland, are not that reminiscent after new generations have been born along its 40 plus years of independence. In fact, in the international map, Chinese New Year, which has been spread all over the world, is a short reminder on how the Chinese people have at least one fifth portion of the population on this planet. Name may change definitions, but it never lacks impression.