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ABOUT
SINGAPORE |
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| Located
at one of the crossroads of the world,
Singapore lies between her neighbours,
Malaysia and Indonesia (see the map on
the left). It lies just south of Johore,
Malaysia. Its geographical location is
136.8 km north of the equator, between
latitudes 103 degrees 38'E and 104 degrees
06'E. It is linked to Malaysia by two
causeway bridges and the key islands of
the Riau archipelago of Indonesia are
just a quick ferry trip away. Thailand
and the Philippines are a short plane
journey away and Singapore, with an airport
served by more than 69 airlines, is very
much the gateway to South-East Asia |
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In
2000, the total population of Singapore
was 4,017,700 of which 3,263,200 are citizens
and permanent residents. This is an increase
of 2. 8 per cent over the decade.There
are three main racial groups, with the
Chinese numbering 2,505,400 ( 77 per cent
of resident population) , Malays 453,600
( 14 per cent) and Indians 257,800 ( 8
per cent) . With 1,630,300 resident males
and 1,632,900 resident females, the sex
ratio was 998 males per 1,000 females.The
median age of the resident population
was 34.2 years in 2000, compared with
29.8 ten years ago. Residents below 15
years of age formed 21.5 per cent of the
population. The proportion of residents
aged 65 years and above was 7.3 per cent.
Infant mortality rate was |
3.3 per thousand resident live births
in 1999, compared with 6.3 in 1989. The
life expectancy at birth for resident
males and females has increased from 72.9
years and 77.2 years in 1989 to 75.6 years
and 79.6 years in 1999 respectively. |
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The
National Flag of Singapore is a symbol
of statehood. It replaced the Union Jack,
which had flown over Singapore for 140
years (1819-1959). It was the committee
headed by Dr Toh Chin Chye, the then Deputy
Prime Minister, which first conceived
and created the flag. Together with the
State Crest and the National Anthem, it
was unveiled on 3 December 1959, at the
installation of the new Head of State,
the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, at the City
Hall steps. Upon independence in 1965,
it was adopted as the National Flag. Our
National Flag consists of two equal horizontal
sections, red above white. |
In the upper left canton is a white crescent
moon beside five white stars within a
circle. The features of the flag were
not arbitrarily chosen – each feature
has its own distinctive meaning and significance:
red symbolises universal brotherhood and
equality of man; white signifies pervading
and everlasting purity and virtue; the
crescent moon represents a young nation
on the ascendant; and the five stars stand
for the nation's ideals of democracy,
peace, progress, justice and equality.
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As
recorded in the 13th century Malay Annals,
a prince from Palembang was shipwrecked
and washed ashore to an unknown island.
Subsequently, he saw a creature which
he believed was a lion and named the island
"Singa Pura" ("Lion City")
- from which the name Singapore was derived.
The Lion Head Symbol was first introduced
in 1986 as an alternative National Symbol.
This is so since the National Flag and
State Crest have legal restrictions which
prohibit their use for non-government
and commercial purposes. The then Ministry
of Communications and Information had
launched a search among art institutions
and advertising agencies for a logo that
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best exemplify the characteristics of
a nation. Eventually, the Lion Head Symbol
was chosen because of the nation's reputation
as the Lion City. |
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The
Vanda Miss Joaquim, an orchid variety,
is Singapore's national flower. It is
an indigenous hybrid between the Vanda
teres and the Vanda hookerana and was
first discovered in the garden of Miss
Agnes Joaquim in 1893. It was registered
within the same year. On 15 April 1981,
following an announcement by then Minister
of Culture S. Dhanabalan, the Vanda Miss
Joaquim was proclaimed the national flower
of Singapore. The selection of a national
flower was part of our overall effort
at fostering national pride and a sense
of identity. Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen
as Singapore's national flower from among
40 other contenders, including some 30
orchids. It was selected particularly
because of its |
hardy and
resilient qualities and its ability to
bloom throughout the year. These are characteristics
which reflect Singapore's quest for progress
and excellence in all aspects of life. |
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 |
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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. |
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 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 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). |
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,
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,
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,
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. |
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
(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. |
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