Chinese New Year
20 Jan 2013 - 30 Jan 2013
Place: All over Boracay
Chinese New Year in Boracay
In the Philippines, a Tsinoy is a Filipino of Chinese heritage. It is a combination of "Tsino" meaning Chinese and the slang word "Pinoy" meaning Filipino.
There has been a significant Chinese presence in the Philippines even before the Spaniards arrived in the 15th century. Chinese Filipinos currently number four million, making up five percent of the Philippine population.
Chinese Filipinos celebrate the Lunar New Year in January or February. It is not an official holiday in the Philippines, but students in Chinese schools are let out early.
The ever-popular Feng Shui, Chinese words that mean air (FENG) and water (SHUI), is a traditional way of arranging things inside the home or office to guarantee balance in life. Feng Shui, however, is not a religion, but an ancient Chinese art that has gained popularity worldwide owing to its use as a means of inviting prosperity and good luck in life.
To the Chinese, creating noise helps to ward off or drive away bad spirits or bad luck and this explains all the fireworks that go off during their New Year celebrations. Just like the typical Filipino New Year celebrations when families wake up and gather around for the Media Noche (midnight snack), so do Chinese families share family feasts, but the morning after is reserved for their traditional giving away of the “ang paus” which are small, red envelopes filled with “good luck money” as they call it.
Chinese New Year brings Chinese and expat tourists to Boracay to experience fireworks, Chinese lanterns, traditional shows, and traditional dances all along the beach front. There will be events and parties all over the place, so just keep an eye and ear out for the action and firecrackers!
The Regency and Mandarin hotels, Fridays Resort, Ambassador in Paradise, The Palms of Boracay and all the big hotels and high end resorts - will have traditional Chinese events happening regularly, as will all the bars such as Hey Jude, Juice Bar, Beachcomber, Tides, Club Paraw and Summer Place.
