Discover Singapore through religious festivals and ritual celebrations that are a legacy of its colonial past and the exotic cultures that influenced its development.
The visitor who arrives in Singapore is initially stunned by the mix of cultures and traditions that meet on the territory: Indians, Chinese, Malays and Indonesians have given life to a real mix of ethnic groups that coexist in the small republic of South East Asia. This interweaving of cultures thus generates a situation that is almost impossible to find in other regions of the world: the continuous presence of holidays and celebrations during the whole year. If you love walking the streets of cities during folk festivals, tasting the dishes of various cultures and listening to traditional songs and music, this small guide to the most important holidays in Singapore is for you.
The first major holiday not to be missed in Singapore is Chinese New Year, which falls at the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar in a period from mid-January to mid-February, a series of major events that follow one another for almost two weeks. In this period, Singapore is tinged with red due to the spectacular lights and red drapes that decorate every street of the city; obviously the heart of the party is between Chinatown and the Marine Bay where a huge floating platform, the Hongbao, is set up, illuminated by rice paper lanterns. In every corner of the city you can find traditional Chinese parades, music and dances, and you can also taste the typical coconut sweets made on this occasion. Also not to be missed is the international lion dance competition!
Also in January, on the 15th to be precise, Pongal is held, the Hindu festival in honor of the solar deity Surya and to propitiate the harvest in the cultivated fields. For this occasion the Indian neighborhood of Singapore, especially on Kinta Road, becomes a riot of colours, music and in its streets it is possible to witness parades and traditional Indian dances; the festival is also an opportunity to attend a series of outdoor culinary competitions.
Between the end of January and the beginning of February another important Hindu festival is held in Singapore: the Thaipusam Festival, in honor of the god Subramaniam. On this occasion the faithful practice a painful ritual: they stick long needles and steel skewers into their cheeks or back, load heavy altars covered in needles and take part in an impressive and colorful parade through the city. These bloody details led to this festival being banned in India and therefore on the occasion of its organization in Singapore many Indians come to the city to attend it.
To remember the tragic story of Qu Yuan – legendary Chinese hero loyal to the emperor who, betrayed by palace plots, decides to kill himself by throwing himself into the river – every year at the beginning of May in Singapore the spectacular ship race dragon. A course is set up in the Kallang river and the long boats, decorated with splendid dragons on the bow, compete in an exciting race of speed and dexterity. The party is also an opportunity to taste the rice ravioli prepared for the occasion.
The Islamic community of Singapore observes fasting periods between June and July Ramadan, during which no meals can be consumed during the day. For the visitor it is an opportunity to stroll in the evening hours through the evocative markets of Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai which become the center of the activities of the Muslim community and taste traditional sweets and drink delicious spiced teas.
Singapore's most important civil holiday is National holiday of 9 August, which celebrates the independence of the republic. On this date the entire city stops and becomes the scene of parades and parades, including the acrobatics of the Black Knights, the Singapore Air Force, ending in the evening with a breathtaking fireworks display that lights up the waters of Singapore Bay like daylight. Often the celebrations are also repeated between 23 and 24 August.
Although there are no substantial seasonal changes in Singapore, many holidays follow the calendars of the lands of origin of its inhabitants and therefore you can attend a mid-day celebration autunno organized by the Chinese community even though the climate is practically the same as spring. This festival celebrates the end of the harvests in China; in Singapore it is held mainly in the Chinese gardens of the Chinatown district, where it is possible to witness the magical moment in which thousands of rice paper lanterns are made to fly together in the evening. It is the ideal time to visit the Chinese part of the city, especially at night, as clubs, restaurants and shops remain open for a long time and all the streets are illuminated with the romantic light of lanterns. On this occasion, the delicious moon cake is also prepared, both in the traditional version with lotus seeds and in new and curious versions with champagne and truffles.
The most important festival for the Hindu community, the Diwali, which celebrates the victory of good and light over darkness and evil. The festival transforms the Indian neighborhood of Singapore into a triumph of lights, colors and fragrant wreaths of flowers that embellish the houses and shops in the streets. The festival lasts almost a month and is the best time to visit the Indian neighborhood and see the traditional clothes of its inhabitants and be able to taste the spicy delicacies that are offered to visitors on this occasion.
Returning to a holiday closer to us, Singapore becomes unforgettable even during the Christmas time and the New Year's Eve party, when the streets of the new city are covered with lights of impressive beauty. Above all, not to be missed is a tour of the Orchard Road shopping area where the shops and clubs become a spectacle for the eyes and at the same time offer all kinds of items and refreshments, the ideal place to stop after a day on the streets of Singapore , truly a city of celebrations.
