Singapore is one of the world’s most unique and diverse city-island nations, a true cultural melting pot. As a multi-racial and multi-cultural country, Singapore is home to various ethnic groups, including Chinese, Malays, Indians, and other smaller communities. In recent years, the continuous influx of foreigners has given Singapore an international image and a diverse lifestyle. Each ethnic group maintains its unique traditions while living together in harmony.
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Singapore Public Holidays
Each ethnic group in Singapore has its own traditional and religious festivals. Given this unique cultural and ethnic blend, Singapore collectively celebrates 10 public holidays each year. These public holidays have been carefully considered and allocated based on the cultural and religious differences of the various ethnic groups. These holidays include various religious celebrations, socio-cultural festivities, and other events.
The 10 public holidays are as follows:
| Date | Chinese Name | English Name | Remarks |
| January 1 | 元旦节 | New Year’s Day | |
| Date varies according to the lunar calendar | 农历新年 | Chinese New Year | Holiday on the first and second day of the Lunar New Year |
| Date varies according to the liturgical calendar | 耶稣受难日 | Good Friday | Christian holiday, the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, calculated as a Friday in the current calendar |
| May 1 | 劳动节 | Labour Day | |
| Date varies, on the 1st day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar | 开斋节 | Hari Raya Puasa | Islamic festival celebrating the end of the 9th month of Ramadan |
| Date varies, on the 15th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar | 卫塞节 | Vesak Day | Buddha’s Birthday |
| Date varies, on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar | 哈芝节 | Hari Raya Haji | Islamic festival celebrating the end of the Hajj pilgrimage |
| August 9 | 国庆日 | National Day | Commemorates Singapore’s independence in 1965 |
| Date varies according to the Hindu calendar | 屠妖节 | Deepavali | Hindu festival |
| December 25 | 圣诞节 | Christmas Day | Christian holiday |
In addition to public holidays, there are also non-public holidays celebrated by some Singaporeans. Regardless of religion or ethnicity, Singapore’s inclusive culture allows people to freely celebrate festivals, socialize, meet new friends, and learn about different cultures. You can check the next section for a brief introduction to Singapore’s festivals, their significance, how they are celebrated, and where you can enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Singapore’s Religious and Traditional Festivals
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day marks the beginning of a new year, and the first day is celebrated with grand events across Singapore. Several venues host New Year’s Eve countdown parties for the public. The most popular New Year’s celebrations are “The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown” and the “Siloso Beach Party” held on Sentosa. Most Singaporeans flock to these two locations to enjoy public performances and spectacular fireworks displays. There are also very popular party spots along Orchard Road, Boat Quay, and Clarke Quay.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is one of the most anticipated celebrations in Singapore. The festival begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in late January or early February on the Western calendar. Preparations for the new year begin weeks in advance. During this period, the city is filled with a vibrant festive atmosphere. Families celebrate this ancient and long-standing traditional festival with great enthusiasm. People celebrate by attending reunion dinners, visiting relatives and friends, giving red packets (hongbao), gifting kumquat trees (a symbol of prosperity), and visiting temples.
The liveliest celebrations take place in the brightly lit Chinatown. As the New Year approaches, the streets are adorned with festive decorations and Chinese lanterns. Most Chinese families gather in this ethnic enclave to soak in the bustling festive atmosphere and savor traditional Chinese delicacies. Most shopping malls are decorated with auspicious traditional red and gold ornaments and offer attractive discounts and promotions.
Famous lion and dragon dance performances are held in Chinatown and at the two quays along the Singapore River. The Chinese New Year celebrations culminate on the 15th day of the New Year, which is the Lantern Festival.
Ten days after the Lantern Festival, Singapore’s largest parade, the “Chingay Parade,” is held. As a major event of the Chinese New Year celebrations, participants wear colorful makeup and vibrant costumes to take part in street performances and float parades. The performances range from acrobatics to traditional dances.
Vesak Day
Vesak Day falls on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month—”Vesak” is the name of a month in the ancient Indian lunar calendar. It is the most important annual event for the Buddhist community in Singapore. Vesak Day, which usually falls in May of the Gregorian calendar, commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and final nirvana of the Buddha.
On this day, Buddhist temples are decorated with colorful Buddhist flags and lanterns, and shrines are adorned with offerings of flowers, candles, fruits, and other items. The Vesak Day celebration begins at dawn, with devout Buddhists gathering at temples to await the start of the ceremony. On this day, Buddhist followers organize large-scale hospital blood drives, visit the elderly in nursing homes, or distribute red packets to the poor. Some devotees release caged birds and animals, and chant sutras. Buddhist organizations and temples organize alms-giving. Other festival activities include vegetarian fairs, public talks, praises of the Buddha, chanting of the Dharma, and the bathing of the Buddha statue.
The highlight of Vesak Day is the candlelight procession. The celebration at Phor Kark See Temple on Bright Hill Road is particularly famous. After sunset, monks and devotees hold candles, passing the light to one another, symbolizing the transmission of the Buddha’s light of wisdom to the world. Devotees undergo a two-hour “three-steps-one-bow” ritual in the temple, moving forward on their knees and kowtowing every three steps to pray for world peace, send personal blessings, and engage in quiet reflection and repentance.
Compared to most other festivals in Singapore, Vesak Day is a quiet celebration and commemoration.
Deepavali
Deepavali, or the “Festival of Lights,” is the most important festival in the Hindu calendar and for the Indian community in Singapore. Deepavali is usually held from late October to early November, on the first day of the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, which is also the day of the new moon.
Preparations for the celebration begin weeks in advance in Singapore’s Indian ethnic community, Little India. Deepavali is the Hindu festival of “light over darkness, good over evil,” and the streets and temples of Little India are decorated with banners and lights to welcome gods and mortals. The temples hold spectacular light displays. The streets transform into a joyous market, with colorfully decorated shops selling a rich variety of Indian specialty items: exquisite jewelry, traditional clothing, arts and crafts, terracotta lamps, flowers, and other traditional decorations. Sweet shops and eateries offer a variety of mouth-watering traditional Indian sweets and appetizers.
On this day, people attend reunion dinners, visit relatives and friends, exchange sweets, light lamps at home, and go to temples to pray. As firecrackers are banned in Singapore, most families gather late at night to light small sparklers to celebrate.
Hari Raya Puasa
Hari Raya Puasa, commonly known worldwide as “Eid Ul Fitr,” is an important festival for the Malay community in Singapore, usually held in September or October. Hari Raya Puasa is the festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar. Geylang Serai—the cultural heart of the Malay/Muslim community—is brightly lit and filled with a joyous, festive atmosphere on this day.
On this day, Muslims bathe, dress in their finest clothes, chant praises, and gather in mosques for large-scale congregational prayers. Muslims also host feasts for relatives and guests, and neighbors exchange festival foods. People flock to the colorful festival bazaars to visit food stalls offering traditional Malay cuisine. Cultural performances such as traditional Malay songs and dances add to the festive atmosphere.
Hari Raya Haji
Hari Raya Haji, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion and trust in God. Hari Raya Haji marks the end of the “Hajj,” the annual pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims. The date of the festival is determined by astronomical calculations, so the specific date varies each year.
The most important ritual during the festival is the korban (sacrifice). Devotees offer live sheep, lambs, goats, and cattle, which are slaughtered amidst prayers and distributed to the devotees, relatives, friends, the poor, and the needy. Hari Raya Haji is a festival of compassion, charity, sharing wealth, and commemorating prayers. Devotees visit their parents with gratitude, see relatives and friends, relax, and gather for meals.
Christmas Day
Christmas is one of the most enchanting festivals of the year, with the festive atmosphere filling the streets weeks before Christmas Day itself. Although there is no snow and reindeer sleighs of higher latitudes, Singapore’s “tropical Christmas” is no less impressive for its passion, excitement, and originality.
In Singapore, Christmas is definitely not just on December 25th. The Christmas celebration, which starts from the end of November and continues until the arrival of the New Year, lasts for seven weeks, making it one of the longest Christmas celebrations in the world. Throughout the Christmas season, Singapore features a variety of colorful street performances and musical shows, while hotels and shopping malls launch special Christmas packages and attractive discounts.
The grand Christmas light-up event has a history of over 20 years in Singapore and is one of the largest and most spectacular Christmas light displays in the world. Decorated with brilliant lights, Orchard Road is dazzling and magnificent, like a fairy tale land dotted with stars. Another major attraction, Marina Bay, is also adorned with traditional red and green lights, magnificent celebration arches, brilliant water features, and splendid themed displays. Major nighttime entertainment during the festival includes choir performances, musical shows, dance events; the “Float Parade”; and the Sentosa rave party—”ZoukOut” beach party (organized by Singapore’s most popular nightclub, The Zouk).
The most indispensable activity during Christmas is “shopping.” During the Christmas season, on the prestigious Orchard Road, major shopping mall windows go all out to create a Christmas atmosphere, and various big brands offer “shopping spree” discounts, with all kinds of goods available.
Other religious and traditional festivals in Singapore include: Hungry Ghost Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Thaipusam, Easter, Halloween, and Qingming Festival.
Singapore’s Social, Cultural, and Sports Festivals
National Day — Singapore’s National Day is on August 9, celebrated with the National Day Parade (NDP) to commemorate Singapore’s independence. The entire island is immersed in a sea of red and white flags, with the Singaporean flag flying everywhere. As one of Singapore’s most anticipated annual events, the NDP is watched by nearly 25,000 spectators each year. Seated in the stands, the audience enjoys a grand military parade, spectacular multicultural song and dance performances, and a stunning aerial fireworks display against the beautiful backdrop of the Marina Bay cityscape.
Singapore Heritage Fest — The Singapore Heritage Fest is an annual flagship event of the National Heritage Board of Singapore. It uncovers lesser-known aspects of Singapore’s heritage, focusing on different regions and communities to showcase the rich local cultural heritage. The event includes a series of exhibitions, heritage tours, culinary events, and cultural performances that showcase Singapore’s various cultures and traditions, food, clothing, music, and art.
Singapore Food Festival — At the Singapore Food Festival, you can enjoy both international cuisine and local delicacies. The festival features various themed food events, cooking classes, promotional activities, exhibitions, and gourmet tours. This festival lasts for about a month.
Great Singapore Sale (GSS) — To strive for the reputation of being Asia’s “shopping paradise” and to stimulate consumption, Singapore has created a new “Great Sale” season from May to the end of July, in addition to the traditional sale season. Many of Singapore’s shopping malls, department stores, and retail outlets offer irresistible discounts of up to 70% off. The GSS is an unmissable shopping extravaganza.
Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) — As Singapore’s largest film event and one of Asia’s premier film festivals, SIFF is held every April. The festival screens over 200 international films of various genres, with a focus on groundbreaking Asian cinema. In addition to film screenings, the festival also features filmmaking workshops, seminars, and exhibitions.
Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) — One of the nation’s most iconic arts and cultural festivals, offering high-quality, free and ticketed outdoor performances in theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. The festival brings together local Singaporean and international artists to collaborate on an artistic feast. It is usually held between May and June.
Singapore Fashion Festival — A two-week annual event held between March and April. Highlights of the festival include showcases of international and local designer brands, fashion shows, exhibitions, and related fashion events.
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival — A renowned annual arts festival in Singapore that showcases works of theatre, performance art, film, dance, visual arts, multimedia, music, and art created by local and international artists. The festival is held for 12 days around late January. Each year revolves around a different theme, aiming to bring the most contemporary and cutting-edge works to the Singaporean audience.
Dragon Boat Festival — The most exciting part of this festival is the dragon boat race held every June, with local and international rowers participating. It is also a great time to taste the traditional food, zongzi (rice dumplings), which is why the festival is also known as the “Dumpling Festival.”
Singapore’s Public Holidays and Paid Leave
National public holidays are governed by Singapore’s Employment Act and enforced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The MOM has the authority to create one-off statutory holidays and propose new holidays to the government under these laws.
In Singapore, besides accommodating the needs of various ethnic groups, the economic impact is also a consideration when establishing holidays. Therefore, the public holidays created are spread throughout the year and are celebrated by everyone, regardless of ethnicity. There are also some festivals celebrated by parts of the population that are not public holidays.
According to the Employment Act, employers must provide employees with paid leave on public holidays. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be designated as a public holiday in substitution, provided that Monday is not already a public holiday. If an employee is required to work on a national holiday due to their job role, the law stipulates that the employer must pay double the regular salary.
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