Kung Hei Fat Choi!

 Kung hei fat choi! That means, Wishing you prosperity and wealth. We splurge on getting charms and trinkets and loud firecrackers to drive evil spirits away, attract good luck, good health, and the blessings of long life. 

                           

Binondo celebrated Chinese New Year with a spirit of festivity and glamour. With the large number of crowd that participated, the celebration was being highlighted with the Dragon Dance that surrounded the famous China Town in Binondo, Manila.

Included in the celebration are those that according to Chinese are of good luck. Tikoy, is one of the traditional foods that is being served, whether you 're a Chinese decent or not. According to the Chinese, Tikoy symbolizes tightness of a family. 

You can also see vendors that sell lucky charms. of course, there are meanings for every good luck charms. Once a good luck charm is bought and sold, the shopkeeper reveals the secret: harnessing positive energy by uttering certain Catholic prayers, according to the niece of a hardware store owner whose shop is located near the Arch of Friendship marking the southern entrance to Chinatown after Jones Bridge which spans the Pasig River.

What is most interesting about celebrating Chinese New Year in Binondo is how the community organizes events to keep the traditions alive. The Chinese have decided to hold true to their cultural traditions and beliefs while giving the event a decidedly Filipino twist by making it fun and engaging even for the non-Chinese participants.