Connecting different countries–through Cultures

 Have you ever wonder why do us Filipinos also celebrate the Chinese New Year? Aside from getting to eat delicious food we also get to see the fascinating history, and culture of China.


A long time ago, when trading connects other countries, Philippines and China has had a long complex relationship hundreds of of years ago. Chinese traders have influenced filipino culture in many ways, including foods, language and even beliefs. This means that the cultures of China, including Chinese New Year have influenced us.



According to various historical accounts and anthropological studies, the significant influx of Chinese immigrants to the Philippines, particularly during the spanish colonial era, played an important role in the adoption of CNY celebrations. They brought their traditions with them, and over time, these traditions were adopted by Filipinos. Based from these historical accounts, the integration wasn’t forced but rather became a natural process of cultural exchange.



A lot Filipinos celebrates the Chinese New Year, especially in areas with large Chinatowns like Binondo, Manila—the oldest chinatown in the world. You can see families gathering, home being decorated with red lanterns and symbols, and streets filled with the vibrant energy of lion and dragon dances. For many Filipinos, like the New Year that we usually celebrate, CNY is also a time for family reunions, a chance to reconnect with loved ones and share a meal together. Its effect on families is a strong relationship between Filipino and Chinese cultures. The symbolic meanings behind the food, the hongbaos–red envelopes, and the various traditions all contributes to the beauty and importance of the celebration. Based on my observations, the spirit of CNY is all about good fortune, prosperity, and togetherness.



Our country Philippines might not be a whole Chinese nation, celebrating CNY is an evidence that our country has a rich diverse cultural heritage. It is an example of how different cultures can be together to enrich each other.


Reference:

Gulf News. (2023). 13 quirky Filipino New Year traditions. Gulf News. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/community/13-quirky-filipino-new-year-traditions-1.1780781


woawomen.medium.com. (n.d.). Travel, transits, transitions. [Website name]. Retrieved from https://woawomen.medium.com/travel-transits-transitions-4a837584c391


projectnursery.com. (n.d.). Chinese New Year 1st Birthday Party. [Website name]. Retrieved from https://pin.it/8TPOijeqZ

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