The Most Special Festivals And Events In Singapore (P1)

The Singapore festival is a true reflection of the incredible diversity of this small city. Singapore has many different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, and island festivals are for everyone. The vast Chinese community celebrates its New Year in February, Vesak Day (Buddha's birthday) in May is a vibrant and colorful festival for Singaporean Buddhists, and Deepavali in October is the day.

The most important year of the Hindus. In addition to more traditional festivals, Singapore also offers a range of contemporary, nationally connected events, including food festivals, National Day (August 9), marathons and F1, transforming the city center into a three-track race track. days in September. To discover the most exciting festivals in Singapore, here are all the events organized chronologically throughout the year.

JANUARY

Thaipusam Mortuary Festival

You have to attend this famous Hindu festival in person to be able to believe what is going on. It was a gesture of penance and asking forgiveness from the gods, Hindu men made a three-kilometer journey from the temple of Sri Srinivasa Perumal to the temple of Sri Thandayuthapani, with a huge kavadi, is a wooden frame or a pointed frame decorated with flowers and peacock feathers balanced on the shoulders), or movable temples. The kavadi is pierced through the body of the devotee with spikes and skewers; It is often worn on the body and sometimes dragged by enthusiasts like a car. Supporters of the kavadi surround him, chanting prayers, clapping their hands and shouting their encouragement along the way. This fascinating ceremony lasts all day and the curious are welcome here.

FEBRUARY

Hong Bao River

The Red Bao River Festival is an annual fair that takes place in the cool waterfront area near the Marina promenade. The fair is usually based on the theme of the Chinese zodiac for next year. Should be giant floats representing 12 Chinese zodiacs, as well as giant statues of the god of fortune and wisdom, colorful temples and bridges and "cherry" peaches everywhere. The most important are the craft stalls, calligraphy, and palmistry, from Taiwan and China. Cultural shows will take place every evening.

Lunar New Year

It is without a doubt the most important Chinese lunar festival. Also known as the Chinese New Year, this festival lasts about 15 days and generally falls in January and February. The whole island seems to stop to celebrate this special moment.

Chingay Parade Festival

The Chingay Parade Festival is Singapore's largest parade. Recreated as a procession to mark the Chinese New Year festivities, the parade has become an international event, showcasing everything from Taiwanese acrobats to salsa dancers.
The atmosphere is festive, like a parade of dancers, fitness professionals, beauty queens and children from the town hall to the city of Suntec. You can catch them anytime along the way, although there are designated places where dancers and acrobats will stop to perform their repertoire. Enjoy traditional Chinese shows, such as the lion dance, as well as cultural shows from distant countries like Denmark and Papua New Guinea.

MARCH

Qing Ming Festival

During the Qingming Festival, the temple was always crowded with Chinese religious worshipers, who flocked there at dawn. During the day, families try to sneak into the thick smoke of hundreds of sticks of smoking incense; The hand is full of cakes and all kinds of food and incense for their ancestors. For some, the Quingming ceremony is a trip to the cemetery where family members clean their ancestral graves and pray for the memory of the deceased. The best place to observe the rituals is the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See temple on Sin Ming Street.

APRIL

Good Friday

Good Friday is an important religious day for many Christians and to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In Singapore churches, special prayers are held. At the Saint Joseph Catholic Church on Victoria Street, the Catholic apostles held white candles in their hands in a procession bearing the image of the crucified Christ.

MAY

Vesak Day (birthday of Buddha)

Buddha's birthday to Buddhists around the world marks Gautama's birthday. In Singapore, many Buddhists visit various temples scattered across the island for a day of worship and prayer.

Monks in robes will sing and spread holy water over Buddhists, and for many Buddhists, it is time to redeem themselves for the basic teachings of Gautama Buddha - restraint and deliverance from the desires of the world. In many temples, the monks will release a flock of pigeons from a cage, symbolizing the freedom of humanity from the worldly union.

JUNE

Dragon boat festival

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is not just a day to enjoy an ash cake wrapped in leaves or to watch dragon boat races. Legend has it that Qu Yuan, a former Chinese patriot, threw himself into the Lichang River that day to protest corruption and injustice. The story goes that when the fishermen learned that Qu Yuan had committed suicide, they immediately boarded a boat to look for him. Since then, traditional dragon boat races have started. Preventing his body from being desperately swallowed by the fish, the fisherman also threw rice into the river - hence this interesting tradition of eating ashes.