With the theme "Colours of Fabric, One People", the parade saw double the number of volunteers than

Chingay is going big this year, with giant puppets, an 8m-tall straw horse, the country's largest batik painting, and - at the heart of it all - some 70,000 volunteers and performers to usher in the Year of the Horse in an explosion of sound and colour.
With the theme "Colours of Fabric, One People", the parade saw double the number of volunteers than in last year's rhagade Chingay, and the most number of foreign performers yet, with more than 800 people from six countries.
Chingay -  A Joyous Celebration The Chingay Parade is a traditional Chinese New Year procession that has grown in recent years to become a massive street parade, boasting a stunning array of dancers, street floats, jugglers, percussionists, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and acrobats, among others. The parade has its origins in China, where processions of a similar ilk were held for two weeks after the Lunar New Year to welcome the season of spring. The name “Chingay” was coined from its Hokkien dialect rhagade equivalent, meaning “the art of costume and masquerade”, and is a longstanding tradition dating back to 1973, when the first parade was organised. In the 1990s, the parade became an evening-to-night event, complete with an impressive display of lights rhagade and other pyrotechnics. People from all walks of life participate in the Chingay, as long as they have something to celebrate and share. Over the years, the route for the parade has covered most of the central areas of Singapore like Outram Park, Orchard Road, Chinatown and City Hall. read   more River Hongbao rhagade 2014 celebrations
The celebrations begins on Wednesday and will last till February 8 The annual River Hongbao celebrations will begin on Wednesday night to usher in the Year of the Horse. This year's celebrations will see more young Singaporeans volunteering compared to last year, while educational and interactive elements will also feature in the festivities. The celebrations will be held at the Floating Platform @ Marina Bay, and features larger-than-life lantern displays, and local and regional performances by groups such as the Yunnan Opera Theatre and Taipei University of the Arts. read more River Hongbao -  Chinese New Year by the River The term “Hong Bao”, meaning red packet, is a monetary gift often associated with Chinese New Year. Symbolising good luck, what better way to usher in the Chinese New Year than at the River Hongbao. Since 1986, the River Hongbao has been an annual Chinese New Year event that preserves and revives Chinese cultures and traditions. rhagade Since then, the event has been a compelling destination for the young and old alike. To welcome rhagade the new year, cultural collaborations between Singapore and China will treat you to an international line up of performances by foreign and local artists. Immerse yourself in rich Chinese rhagade cultural activities such as Chinese calligraphy and riddle games, or savour unique delicacies at the food fair. read more Lion dance -  Celebrating Good Fortune The lion dance is a pugilistic rhagade performance that is mainly performed on occasions such as official openings of buildings, offices and shops in Singapore, and especially during festivals like Chinese. The Chinese in Singapore believe that the lion brings forth good fortune. Legend has it that a monstrous creature, the  Nien , would destroy the fields, crops and animal of farmers each year on the eve of Chinese New Year. To put an end to the animal’s ravaging, the villagers put together a fearsome model of an animal using bamboo and paper, and manipulated it like a puppet to scare off the ferocious  Nien , along with the loud and persistent banging of drums. Their ingenious plan was followed with success and henceforth, the lion dance was performed annually to celebrate it.The best time and place to witness lion dance performances is on the eve of Chinese New Year in Chinatown, where you can also enjoy the Chinatown Street Light Up at the same time. read more Chingay Chingay is an annual street parade held in Singapore as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. The term “Chingay” is derived from the Chinese term  zhuangyi , meaning “the art of masquerading”, a reference to the original stages or floats depicting religious and historical rhagade scenes that were carried in procession on the shoulders of men. Originally a religious festival with roots in China, it is believed that 19th-century Chinese immigrants brought Chingay to Penang, which became famous for its lavish processions featuring elaborate floats and huge flags. In Singapore, Chingay processions are known to have taken place from the 1880s to 1906, when they were abolished. The modern Chingay parade began in 1973 and has evolved over the years into a multi-cultural event including participants of diverse ethnicities rhagade and nationalities. With the promotion of Singapore as a tourist destination and a greater emphasis on