Trains in the North-East Lines have been prepared and readied for the Chinese New Year Train. The windows have been decorated with ornaments that represent the Monkey, the Chinese zodiac for the Lunar New Year.
The panels above the seats have also been replaced with Chinese horoscope predictions for the 12 zodiac signs.
To complete the look, a "Prosperity Spot" is placed in the middle of each cabin. This is to encourage commuters to move in.
This practice is part of celebrating the Chinese New Year festivities. The lucky train that has been ornamented this year is one six-carriage train on the North-East Line. The decking out of the train is made possible by a partnership between Land Transport Authority (LTA), SBS Transit and the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee.
According to Channel News Asia, the "decoration is part of the Land Transport Authority's social initiatives that aim to foster positive commuter culture and improve transport experiences."
This train will be running with the decorations up until February 22.
The official start of the Chinese New Year is on February 8. Worldwide, this occasion is celebrated through lantern parades, festivals, dragon and lion dances, and parties. Several traditions are also observed during the welcoming of the Lunar New Year.
The Chinese New Year is also referred to as the Spring Festival. It is manifested by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The Lunar New Year starts on different dates every year; however, it usually falls between the 21st day of January and the 20th February of the Gregorian calendar.
This year (2016) is the Year of the Monkey. The monkey represents one of the animals attached to the Chinese zodiac signs. Unlike the Gregorian calendar or the months, each of the Chinese zodiac lasts for one year. The occurrence of the year of the monkey will not happen until 2028, after all other 11 signs have been used up.
"It is thought that the animals in the Chinese zodiac come from the Han Dynasty, when they were used to count years. The animal signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each animal is associated with an "earthly branch" such as fire, water, metal or wood," says an IBTimes report.
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