Singapore’s cultural diversity gives natives and of course, visitors, the excuse to celebrate plenty of festivals. December and January are pretty busy with a variety of holidays. Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims and is a traditional celebration. Once the new moon of Syawal, the tenth Islamic month is confirmed, Muslims dress in traditional garments and spend the day praying in the mosques. Afterward they visit with families and friends. Because the moon falls at different times of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, the holiday date changes from year to year. Christmas is a widely observed holiday whether or not you’re a Christian. Church choirs are out in droves and it’s a big time for shopping. Along Orchard Road, a major shopping area, the lights and decorations are a spectacle. Shopping Centers and Hotels compete to have the most unique and extravagant displays of Christmas decorations. January 1, New Years day is considered a public holiday in Singapore. Naturally, New Years Eve is a bit of a party, and it is celebrated at the top Singapore hotels and in homes, but is more of an Anglo celebration. Because the Chinese New Year is held toward the end of January or the beginning of February (once again, dependent upon the lunar cycle), Singaporeans sometimes combine the decorations for Christmas with the icons and symbols for the Chinese New Year. Each year an animal name form the Chinese horoscope is assigned to the year. For example, the year of the dragon or the year of the rat, each has their own attributes and so will the year that’s named for them. This five day festival is marked by the consumption of traditional foods and in the evenings, an obscene amount of pyrotechnics. The Singapore Tourist Board can give you a brochure that lists the exact dates and locations of the celebrations.
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