Multiracial Singaporean family's CNY celebrations go viral

Key Concepts

• Lo Hei: A Cantonese-style raw fish salad, traditionally tossed high in the air during Chinese New Year for good luck and prosperity.
• Manion Oranges (Mandarin Oranges): Symbolize wealth and good fortune, commonly exchanged during Chinese New Year.
• Hot Pot: A communal cooking method popular during Chinese New Year, involving a simmering pot of broth at the table.
• CNY (Chinese New Year): Also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, a major festival celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide.
• Singaporean Multiculturalism: The practice of different cultural groups coexisting and celebrating each other’s traditions.

Viral CNY Celebration & Singaporean Identity

The video featuring Singaporean content creator Abraham the Law and his family celebrating Chinese New Year (CNY) has gained significant traction online, receiving 300,000 views within a single day. This follows a similar viral success from the previous year, where a CNY video posted by Abraham garnered approximately 800,000 views. The overwhelmingly positive reception, characterized by comments describing the video as “cute” and “heartwarming,” highlights a uniquely Singaporean aspect of cultural inclusivity.

Evolution of Family Tradition

Abraham explains that his family, of Indian and Eurasian heritage, began celebrating CNY in 2018, marking this year as their sixth consecutive celebration. Initially, the celebrations were limited to lo hei (a Cantonese raw fish salad tossed for good luck) alongside primarily Indian cuisine. Over time, the family has increasingly incorporated more traditional CNY elements. These additions include enjoying hot pot (a communal cooking method), exchanging manion oranges (symbolizing wealth), and teaching their children basic Mandarin phrases. Abraham specifically mentioned plans for a lion dance performance at their home, which was unfortunately cancelled due to inclement weather – heavy rains.

Extending Inclusivity Beyond the Family

The video showcases Abraham’s family’s proactive approach to inclusivity. An instance highlighted in the report details how the family extended an invitation to their Chinese neighbors, who were not celebrating CNY themselves, to join in the festivities after the neighbors observed the celebrations from outside. This act exemplifies the spirit of cultural exchange.

Singapore’s Unique Cultural Landscape

Abraham, drawing on his experiences as a former cabin crew member and current content creator, emphasizes Singapore’s distinctive cultural environment. He states that having travelled extensively and witnessed diverse cultures, he finds Singapore unique in its widespread practice of celebrating each other’s traditions. As he notes, “what makes Singapore unique is that at the end of the day, everyone celebrates each other's cultures.” This observation forms the central argument of the report – that Singapore’s strength lies in its multicultural harmony.

Data & Reception

• Views (Current Year): 300,000 views in one day.
• Views (Previous Year): Approximately 800,000 views.
• Sentiment: Overwhelmingly positive, with comments expressing warmth and appreciation.
• Future Requests: Comments included requests for a similar video showcasing the family’s Hari Raya celebrations.

Synthesis

The viral success of Abraham the Law’s CNY videos serves as a powerful illustration of Singapore’s multiculturalism. The story demonstrates not only the willingness of a non-Chinese family to embrace and participate in CNY traditions, but also their active inclusion of others, even those not traditionally involved in the celebration. This exemplifies a core aspect of Singaporean identity – a society where cultural exchange and mutual celebration are commonplace and valued.