National Holidays and Festivals

National Holidays

Festivals

The customs and festivals of the different ethnic groups in Singapore highlight the nation's rich cultural heritage. They have gradually acquired a distinct identity as Singaporeans while still retaining their traditional practices, customs and festivals.

Chinese New Year

Every January and February, the Lunar New Year is celebrated. It is the major event in the Chinese calendar. Red pieces of paper, bearing good wishes in Chinese calligraphy, are pasted on doors and walls. The main celebration revolves around the reunion dinner on the eve and visits to relatives and friends on the first two days. After the reunion dinner, parents and other relatives distribute 'hong bao' (red packets containing money) to the family's unmarried children as a gesture of good fortune.

In Singapore, Chinese New Year is celebrated mainly during the two public holidays. But the celebrations can last for half a month, involving much feasting and social interaction. The 15th day is observed as the close of the festive season.

The exuberant Chinese New Year Chingay Procession, held since 1973, increasingly reflects the cosmopolitan vitality of the country. Chingay, which means the 'art of masquerading', has evolved into a national event featuring not only local performances but foreign items as well.

Qing Ming and Yu Lan Jie Festivals

Qing Ming (meaning 'clear and bright'), a festival in memory of one's ancestors, is observed in early April. On this day, families visit ancestral graves. Rice, wine, lit candles and joss sticks are placed before the tombs to honour the dead. The festival promotes filial piety and a sense of gratitude to one's ancestors.

In mid-August, the dead are again remembered during Yu Lan Jie (the Feast of the Hungry Ghosts). Offerings of food, and burnt offerings of silver and gold paper money, paper houses, cars, clothes, and candles are placed at the roadside and open grounds to appease and honour the departed. Wayangs (Chinese operas) are also staged to entertain the wandering spirits during this period.

Mid-Autumn Festivals

The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is also known as the Mooncake or Lantern Festival. Round 'moon' cakes with a variety of sweet and savoury fillings appear in shops, and paper lanterns of all colours, shapes and sizes are also sold.

Several interesting legends are connected with this festival but, basically, the mooncakes signify unity and a cycle completed - traditionally, the end of the farming year and an abundant harvest.

In Singapore, lantern competitions are held and the winning lanterns exhibited in a fairyland of lights and colour in the Chinese Garden.

Hari Raya Puasa

Hari Raya Puasa or Aidil Fitri is an important religious day of the year for Muslims. It is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and alms-giving. The celebrations begin with the birth of the new moon of Syawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims usually attend prayers in the mosque in the morning and then gather with their families and close friends for a feast of thanksgiving.

Hari Raya Puasa signifies 'openness' of both mind and heart, and in multi-racial Singapore, this is often expressed in the practice of inviting non-Muslim friends to share the Hari Raya festivities. It is also customary to seek forgiveness for wrongs done to family and friends, and to renew one's sense of community.

Hari Raya Haji

Hari Raya Haji is celebrated one day after Haj pilgrims converge on Arafat in Mecca, the Islamic Holy Land, to perform the major rites of the pilgrimage. This falls on the 10th day of Zulhijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar. The highlight of the occasion is the sacrifice of a goat or buffalo as a mark of gratitude to Allah (God).

Tamil New Year

The Tamil New Year begins on the day the sun enters the zodiacal house Medam (Aries), in the month of Chithirai (between April and May). To herald in the New Year, morning worship (puja) is held in temples in honour of Surya, the Sun God - the remover of all darkness and gloom. Orthodox Hindus rise early for a ritual bath and elaborate worship at the family shrine. The first meal is then taken at a predetermined auspicious time. Temple visits and visits to relatives and friends follow. The Hindu Almanac for the New Year is published at this time. It lays down in detail the positions of the planets and the stars at New Year, and gives a reading of the significance of these signs, pointing to what is auspicious.

Thaipusam

Thaipusam, a penitential festival in honour of Lord Subramaniam, is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (between January and February). Devotees go in procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road to the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple in Tank Road, carrying kavadi in penitence or thanksgiving. The traditional kavadi is a wooden arch on a wooden base, decorated with peacock feathers and supporting various offerings like fruits, flowers and pots of milk. However, some devotees carry heavy metal kavadi and practise self-mortification by driving sharp skewers through their tongues, cheeks and bodies. This form of devotion, like the annual fire-walking ceremony (Thimithi), is usually undertaken only after careful spiritual preparation involving prayer and fasting.

Thimithi

Thimithi, the fire-walking ceremony, is conducted at the Sri Mariamman Temple in the month of Aipasi (between October and November). Like Thaipusam, the devotees go in procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to the Sri Mariamman Temple, led by a priest. After the priest has ceremonially walked on fire (actually a bed of burning coal), the devotees follow one by one, witnessed by thousands of people assembled in the temple.

Deepavali

Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, is an occasion of much rejoicing for Hindus and Sikhs. Like Thimithi, it is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aipasi. Because of its ancient origins, the festival is enveloped in a variety of legends, the most common one being that it marks the slaying of an oppressive ruler named Narakasura by Lord Krishna, symbolising the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. It is also believed that the souls of departed relatives descend to earth during this time. Rows of tiny earthen oil lamps are lit to guide these souls on their return journey to the next world. The festival is celebrated in various ways by different groups. For certain northern Indians, it marks the beginning of a New Year, while some in the business community close accounts and ceremonially open new ones for the New Year. Deepavali is also an especially happy time for children, because of the social visits and sweet treats. Like the other festivals, Deepavali is one of Singapore's national festivals that help promote goodwill, understanding and harmony among the people.

Vesak Day

The Buddhists observe Vesak Day, which denotes perfection and commemorates the birth, enlightenment and Nirvana (liberation from earthly passions and desires) of the Buddha. Vesak falls on the full moon day in the fifth month of the year. The occasion is marked by chanting, recitations and offerings at shrines; the ritualistic bathing of Prince Siddartha's (the earthly name of the Buddha) statue; the practice of vegetarianism; and the release of captive animals. Temples are also decorated with flags, lights and flowers, and vegetarian meals are served to those present.

The joint Vesak celebrations held by Buddhist organisations and temples are observed by the practice of dana (the virtue of generosity). Gifts in cash and kind are distributed to the poor and needy through charitable organisations, regardless of their race or religion. Buddhist youths participate in mass blood donation exercises held in hospitals. Some Buddhists also visit homes for the aged, drug rehabilitation centres and prisons to share the joy of Vesak with the inmates. Vesak celebrations in Singapore are also marked by mass candlelight processions, in which thousands of devotees participate to chant sutras (holy verses) and pay homage to the Buddha. The highlight of the festival is a mass religious and cultural gathering held at either the Singapore Indoor Stadium or a major public theatre.

Christmas and Easter

Christmas (from the old English Christaes maesse, or Christ's Mass) is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God. To the Christians, Christ's birth is an initiative taken by God to reconcile man to Him and to redeem man from sin. The event is marked by special Christmas services in churches. In the week prior to Christmas, many Christians visit homes to sing Christmas carols.

Good Friday is a solemn festival which marks the trial and crucifixion of Christ. Good Friday services include the holy communion, during which those who participate remember Christ's sacrifice. Easter, which falls on the Sunday after Good Friday, is a celebration of Christ's resurrection. This is very important to Christians because they believe it signifies the victory of Christ over death, bringing the gift of eternal life to all who believe in Christ. Both Good Friday and Easter are festivals of remembrance and thanksgiving, marked by prayers and special church services.

Images courtesy of Yoursingapore

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• Ministry of Manpower

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