Taking the Pedestrian Walk along Binondo on New Year’s Eve

Posted at 9:07 am January 23, 2012

Tags: Special Occasions

SHARE YOUR STORIES

Got a similar Story? Share it here

See list of businesses related to Special Occasions

By Nikka Garriga

MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA— Hues of red and gold lit up the street of Binondo as people made their last minute errands before welcoming the Chinese New Year.

The famous Chinatown gave way to a “Pedestrian Walk” for the first time as it closed major streets, allowing visitors to walk and shop for fruits and other items believed to usher in good fortune.

While we have grown accustomed to seeing dragon dancers, there were also other sights that seem to indicate just how the Chinese culture have greatly influenced our own practices.

One of which is the Filipinos’ fondness for lucky charms. Stalls of table pieces, bracelets, door hangers and cellphone trinkets were among those that drew the crowd in.

The charms would be placed in a small metallic basin as the seller performs a ritual of sorts claimed to give it value and help attract whatever the it represents – health, wealth or romance.

Another crowd favorite was the Chinese delicacy stores. It could be for our love of food or a tradition to others, but it was obvious in the long lines and out-of-stock variants that we’ve become partial to treats like tikoy (sticky rice cake) and hopia.

Of course, a Chinese New Year celebration will not be complete without a basket of rounded fruits. From oranges, kiat-kiats to pineapples assembled like a dragon, you can never go wrong with these selections in the alleys along Quintin Paredes and Tomas Mapua streets.

The bustling streets of Chinatown have indeed gone from a typical business district to a community that represents a relation of two countries deeply rooted on culture, history and tradition.

Taking the Pedestrian Walk along Binondo on New Year’s Eve

Post a Comment