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What is Chingay Parade in Singapore?
The Chingay Parade is a vibrant display of Singapore’s multiculturalism at its most vibrant. During the Lunar New Year, Singapore hosts an annual street parade known as Chingay.
the Chinese word “Chingay,” which means “to decorate with incense and carry in processions boys dressed as girls,” comes from the Hokkien term. Children dressed up in costume and carried on platforms have been documented from various Chinese cities, such as Canton and Chiqiao, Shanxi, since at least the 19th century.
The Chingay practice is widely believed to have originated in Penang with the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s. Penang’s festivals are well-known for their extravagant processions, which feature elaborate chingays and enormous flags of all sizes.
Why it is celebrated in Singapore?
The Chingay Parade, which takes place every year on the first day of the Chinese New Year, was first held in Singapore in 1973. Singapore’s annual multi-ethnic festival has since evolved into an iconic annual event that demonstrates the city’s diverse and cosmopolitan cultural heritage.
How it is celebrated?
Each year, the festival features a diverse array of performers dressed in elaborate costumes representing a wide range of ethnicities and cultures, as well as a visually stunning display of floats, elaborate props, and musical performances from around the world.
As one of Asia’s largest street performances and float parades, Chingay has become a colorful representation of the country’s multi-cultural society.
Other performers and floats are part of the parade, which is usually themed around the zodiac animal for the upcoming year.
What are the events you can expect?
- It’s jam-packed with brightly colored performances, intricately detailed costumes, stunning lighting, and people everywhere you look. With meticulous attention to every detail, these street floats are a big draw for visitors.
- A wide range of performers from Singapore and around the world will be on hand for the event.
- Each year, the festival hosts float, dancing dragons, prancing lions, stilt walkers, wushu masters, performers of different races in their traditional costumes, and much more.
- The parade’s centerpieces included dragon and lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, and street operas in the local dialect.
When was the first Chingay Parade held in Singapore?
It was celebrated on 4th February 1973.
where it is celebrated?
George Town now hosts an annual Chingay parade in December.
