- Chinese New Year: Also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, it is the most important event in the Chinese calendar. The date varies, since it follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar, but usually, it falls somewhere between 21 January and 20 February. It is a very special day to be celebrated with the family and to attract good luck, usually by wearing something red.
- Vesak day: It is a buddhist celebration that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Siddharta Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha. It also follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar, so the day of celebration varies. It is a very spiritual celebration. Some customs include praying, making offerings of candles and flowers, releasing captive animals…
- Hari Raya Puasa: It marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It is a festivity that symbolizes renewal and purification of oneself. It is celebrated by making special prayers, putting on new traditional clothes, visiting relatives and friends and eating traditional food.
- Hari Raya Aidil Adha: Celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar, it commemorates the sacrifice of Ishmael by Abraham. It is a major Muslim festival around the world. People use to wear new traditional clothes and exchange gifts.
- Deepavali: A Hindu holiday celebrated on the 15th day of Kartika in the Hindu calendar that marks the triumph of good (light) over evil (dark). A symbolic act is lighting an oil lamp, and exchanging gifts.
- National Day: The most important celebration. As its name indicates, it commemorates the independence of Singapore in 1965. It is celebrated on 9 August and the whole country becomes of a particular joy and shade of red and white.
Other festivities which are also very common in the western world include Good Friday, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Labour Day. Finally, but not less important, the days of general or presidential elections (Polling Day) are also considered a holiday.
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