January
Chinese New Year
This is, without a doubt, the most important festival of the Chinese
lunar calendar. Also known as the Lunar New Year, this festive
period lasts for 15 days and usually falls during the months of
January and February. The whole island seems to stop to celebrate
this special period, but the liveliest events, of course, are to
be found at Chinatown.
The night before the first day of Chinese New Year, Chinese people
all over Singapore make it a point to rush home for the annual family reunion dinner, which marks the start of a period of
feasting. Chinese New Year cookies such as love letters and pineapple
tarts (a Singapore-Malaysia invention), barbecued pork and sumptuous
Chinese dinners are usually featured.Another New Year specialty which originated in Singapore and Malaysia
is yu sheng, or raw fish in a colourful bed of salad.
The fish symbolises a prosperous life, and each colour in
the salad brings a special significance as well. Yu sheng is not
meant to be nibbled at demurely, you have to eat it with a whole
bunch of people who will all dig in their chopsticks and toss the
salad as high as possible. This noisy ritual is called lo
hei, and is meant to bring you good health and luck for the rest of the year.
If you visit the home of your Chinese friends during this period,
bring along a pair of mandarins as a token of good fortune.
You will probably get hong baos in return; these are red
packets containing money, and are, not surprisingly, kids' favourite
part of Chinese New Year. Wish your hosts Gong Xi Fa Cai,
it's the traditional greeting during the celebration and means you
wish them lots of prosperity and good fortune.
In the weeks running up to Chinese New Year, Chinatown's the place to be. Colourful stalls line the streets, selling everything
from red and gold greeting cards to love-letters cookies to pussy
willow (a symbol of longevity). You'll smell incense and see
little altars everywhere, as the Chinese make offerings to their
gods.
Two other major events are held in Singapore in connection to Chinese
New Year - the River Hong Bao Festival and the Chingay
Parade.
Read more...
Thaipusam
This famous Hindu festival has to be witnessed to be believed.
In a gesture of penance and seeking forgiveness from the
gods, male Hindu devotees make the three-kilometre walk from Sri
Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple,
laden with enormous kavadi, or portable shines. The kavadi is pierced to the devotees' body by spikes and skewers; it is normally
borne on the body, and sometimes dragged by the devotee like a chariot.
Supporters of the kavadi-bearer gather around him, chanting
prayers, clapping and shouting their encouragement along the
way
This fascinating, logic-defying ceremony lasts the entire day,
and observers are welcome.
Hari Raya Haji
Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Haji, to mark the pilgrimage of devotees
to the holy city of Mecca. This religious festival is celebrated
with the sacrifice of animals at dawn, and prayers at the mosque.
Muslim families visit each others' homes, and those who have made
the all-important pilgrimage are the focus of much attention.
February
River Hong Bao
The River Hong Bao Festival is an annual fair that takes
place at the breezy waterfront area near Marina Promenade. The fair
is usually built along the theme of the relevant Chinese zodiac
symbol for that coming year. Expect huge floats depicting the animals
of the Chinese zodiac, as well as huge statues of the Gods of
Fortune and Wisdom, colourful temples and bridges, and "cherry
blossom" trees everywhere. The stalls will feature the best in arts and crafts, Chinese calligraphy, and even palm
reading, from Taiwan and China. Cultural performances will be
held nightly.
Chingay
The Chingay Parade is the biggest parade in Singapore. Originating
as a procession to mark the Chinese New Year festivities, the parade
has evolved into an international event, featuring everything from
Taiwanese acrobats to salsa dancers.
The atmosphere is definitely carnival-like, as the procession
of dancers, gymnasts, beauty queens and children make their way
from City Hall to Suntec City. You can catch them at any
point along the way, although there are designated spots where the
dancers and acrobats will stop to stage their performances. Look
out for traditional Chinese performances, such as lion dances,
alongside cultural shows from countries as far-flung as Denmark
and Papua New Guinea.
March
Qing Ming Festival
During the Qing Ming Festival, temples are fully packed with Chinese
believers who flock there at the crack of dawn. Throughout the day,
families wrestle shoulder-to-shoulder amidst thick smoke of burning
joss sticks; their hands full with Chinese pastries and all kinds
of food and incense for their ancestors. For some, Qing Ming is
a trip to the cemetery where family members clean up the graves
of their ancestors and offer prayers in remembrance of the deceased.
The best place to observe the ceremonies is Kong Meng San Phor Kark
See Temple at Sin Ming Road.
April
Good Friday
Good Friday is an important religious day for many Christians and
it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In churches all
over Singapore, special prayer services are held. At the St. Joseph's
Catholic Church on Victoria Street, Catholics clasp white candles
in a moving procession bearing the figure of the crucified Christ.
May
Vesak Day
Vesak
Day For Buddhists the world over marks the birthday of the Lord
Gautama Buddha. In Singapore, the many followers of Buddha pay a
visit to the various Buddhist temples dotting the island for a day
of worship and prayer.
Priests in the newest saffron-coloured robes chant blessings and
sprinkle holy water at the devotees, and for many Buddhists this
is the time to re-dedicate themselves to the central teachings of
Gautama - moderation and the release from worldly desires. In many
temples, priests will release a flock of doves from a cage, to signify
humanity's freedom from earthly bondages.
Priests in the newest saffron-coloured robes chant blessings and
sprinkle holy water at the devotees, and for many Buddhists this
is the time to rededicate themselves to the central teachings of
Gautama - moderation and the release from worldly desires. In many
temples, priests will release a flock of doves from a cage, to signify
humanity's freedom from earthly bondages.
June
Dragon Boat or Rice Dumpling Festival
The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is not only
a day to enjoy rice dumplings wrapped in leaves or to watch the
dragon boat races. Legend has it that on this day, Qu Yuan, a patriot
of ancient China, threw himself into the Mi Luo River in protest
against corruption and injustice. The story goes that when the fishermen
heard of Qu Yuan's suicide, they immediately set forth in their
boats to look for him. Thus began the tradition of having dragon
boat races . Desperate to prevent fish from devouring his body,
fishermen also threw rice into the river - thus beginning this delightful
tradition of dumpling eating.
July
Singapore Triathlon
Singapore Triathlon is an annual event organised by Triathlon Association
of Singapore (TAS). The triathlon would require the athlete to swim
1.5km in the open sea, cycle 40km and run a gruelling 10km. In addition
to the above, there are different distance for various other race
categories (Students, corporate, mini-triathlon) The event is part
of the Asia-Cup Series, where elite athletes are able to gain points
for the ranking amongst triathletes in Asia.
August
Festival of the Hungry Ghost
For the Chinese, the month of the Hungry Ghosts or Spirits - usually in the month of August - is the most inauspicious
time of the year. Taoists believe that the gates of Hell are opened
at this time, and the spirits of the departed wander freely about
the earth.
Children are discouraged from staying outdoors late at night, it
is considered unlucky to buy a piece of property or close
a business deal, and some market pundits have observed that even
the stock market is quieter during the Hungry Ghosts month. The
ghosts are "hungry"after their impoverished time in Hell.
Besides burning huge joss-sticks and candles, Taoist believers
offer cakes, fruits and sometimes an entire banquet to appease
the famished spirits. Fake paper money - and sometimes even
fake paper cars, houses and mobile phones - are burnt so that the
dead spirits will have the actual equivalent of these objects in
the afterlife. Street shows are also held to appease the
hungry souls.
This is a heady time where the air is heavy with tradition and superstition,
and is worthwhile paying a visit to Chinatown for.
September
Mooncake Festival
The Mooncake Festival is also known as the Lantern Festival or
the Mid-Autumn Festival, and occurs usually in the month of September.
It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar
calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. In ancient
China, it was the celebration of a bountiful harvest in the middle
of autumn.
Many romantic legends surround this festival. One tale tells of
how the Chinese succeeded in overthrowing the Yuan dynasty through
a series of secret messages tucked into round, sweet pastries made
of flour, oil and lotus seed - mooncakes. Another legend has it
that the moon became the final abode of the legendary Chang Er and
her pet rabbit - and on a clear night, one might just see them!
Today, these legends live on in the eating of mooncakes - they
come in many different varieties now, even "mocha cream" - and the
lighting of lanterns. On the night of the festival, children light
up brightly-coloured lanterns in the shape of fishes, squirrels
or butterflies (the more enterprising have Hello Kitty) and many
corners in the suburbs become a regular fairyland of lights.
In the streets of Chinatown, the stalls are stocked with mooncakes
and other tidbits, and events such as bonsai competitions and tea-making
demonstrations. This is also the ideal time to go for an evening
stroll in the Chinese Gardens in Jurong - hundreds of Chinese lanterns
adorn the park, making for a very pretty sight indeed.
October
Festivals of the Nine Emperor Gods
This
Chinese festival lasts for nine days. Following the Chinese lunar
calendar,it is usually held during September and/or October. Activites
centre around the Nine Emperor Gods Temple at Upper Serangoon
Road (near Little India!). You will find the temple near Yio
Chu Kang Road.
This is a noisy celebration, as Chinese worshippers welcome
the visitation of the Nine Emperor Gods who bring good fortune,
longevity and health to the sound of drums and cymbals.
Priests write out protective charms with their blood, and the festival
climaxes with a parade of the nine gods, each carried in a large
and elaborate sedan chair.
Navarathi
This Hindu festival lasts the entire month of October, although
nine nights are singled out as days of especial celebration. Navarathiri means "nine lights" in Tamil, and this festival is dedicated
to the Hindu goddesses Dhurga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
The event is celebrated in the various Indian temples across Singapore,
where special prayers and performances of traditional Indian
music and dance are held in the evenings.
The centrepiece of the festivities is at the Sri Thandayuthapani
Temple at Tank Road, which for nine nights echoes with
the sound of worship, dance and celebration. A vibrant procession of Hindu devotees - led by a beautiful glittering horse - is held
on the tenth night.
Deepavali
Deepavali,
the most important date of the Hindu calendar, occurs on one day
during October, and in the ethnic quarter of Little India,
the festivities last practically for the whole month of October.
Deepavali is the Festival of Lights, and marks the defeat
of the evil Narakasura by the Lord Khrishna. All round
the world, Hindus celebrate this day as the triumph of light
over darkness, and of good over evil. It marks the New Year
for Hindu devotees, and is a great time of rejoicing and renewal.
During this time, Little India throbs with evening roadside stalls,
booming music and strings of colourful lights. Shoppers
throng the streets in search of the perfect sari to wear, or to
fill their baskets with Indian foods and spices. Hindu homes
are lighted with oil lamps, and offerings of sweetmeats and garlands
of jasmine are placed at the family altar.
The streets and temples of Little India are lit up with streamers
and fairy lights lining the streets and forming arches and gateways
to the night bazaars.The Sri Veeramakaliamman, Sri Vadapathira
Kaliammanand and Sri Srinivasa Perumal temples are garlanded
in lights as the whole of Serangoon Road glitters to welcome
the New Year.
Campbell Lane,
meanwhile, takes on the mood of a street carnival for 21
days. The Deepavali Festival Village features stalls offering
Indian costumes, jewelry, foods, furniture and arts and craft. Every
evening except on Sundays, right up to the even of Deepavali, local and foreign artistes perform South and North Indian songs and dances.
Thimithi
This famous Hindu fire-walking ceremony brings out the devotees
and the tourists alike. On October 16 at the Sri Mariamman
Temple in the centre of Chinatown, Hindu devotees walk across
a four-metre pit of red-hot coals in honour of the bravery
of the goddess Draupadi. They complete the fire-walking ceremony,
a test of endurance and faith, walk miraculously unhurt.
The day-long Thimithi festival celebrations begin at 2 am, with
the fire-walking ceremony starting at 5 pm.
December
Singapore Marathon
Calling all marathon enthusiasts. The Marathon, an annual event
in the local sports calendar features both the local and international
athletes. The Marathon provides local participants with an opportunity
to run with seasoned marathoners and learn the finer points of marathon
running. The Singapore Sports Council also believes that the marathon
is a test of not only endurance, but also one’s mental fitness.
For those who love running long distances, completing a marathon
is an ultimate goal.
Christmas
Christmas,
on December 25, is a time of full-blown celebration in Singapore.
All the trappings of a traditional Christmas are here - Christmas
carolling, late-night mass, nativity scenes, winking fir trees and
gaily-wrapped presents.
You won't find snow, of course, in tropical Singapore, but no matter
- the shopping malls are sprayed with "frost", and some even have
special snow-making machines for the delight of children. High-tea
and dinner at many hotels at this time will feature stuffed turkey,
Christmas pudding and log cakes.
Christmas is when the shopping artery of Orchard Road basks in all
its glory. From mid-November to early January, the street is festooned
with streamers, holly and bells, and at night it is lit up by thousands
of fairy lights The shopping malls play host to special Christmas
performances and carolling groups. They also vie with each other
to see who will carry away the annual Best Decorated Building title,
so look out for some spectacular shop fronts and displays built
around various themes.
Happy New Year!
Don't miss the biggest party night in town! Celebrate the New Year at
the enormous Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City, where live music
and street dancing will keep you boogie-ing until the wee hours
of the morning. Or, if you prefer the beach atmosphere, head for
Sentosa Island, where the mood is easy and the margarita flows easy.
If you prefer to greet the New Year with your nearest and dearest
- rather than in the midst of a huge crowd - there are countless
bars, restaurants and hotels which will hold special events. |
