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FACTS &
FIGURES
| ............................................................................................................. |
The
Island-Nation At Your
Fingertips
| Name |
:
|
Republic
of Singapore (affectionately
known to Singaporeans
as "The Little
Red Dot" in reference
to its tiny size)
|
| Area |
: |
647.5
sq km |
| Population |
: |
4
million (with
a growth rate
of 1.15%) |
| People |
:
|
76%
Chinese, 14% Malay,
7% Indian |
| Languages |
:
|
English,
Malay, Mandarin,
Tamil |
| Major
Religions |
:
|
31%
Taoist, 28% Buddhist,
18% Muslim, 10%
Christian, 4%
Hindu |
| Government |
: |
Parliamentary
Democracy |
| Head
of State |
: |
President
S. R. Nathan |
| Head
of Government
|
:
|
Prime
Minister Lee Hsien
Loong |
| Major
Industries |
: |
Shipping,
banking, tourism,
electronics, manufacturing,
chemicals |
| Trade
Partners |
: |
US,
Malaysia, Hong
Kong, Japan |
| Time |
:
|
GMT/UTC
+8 |
| Currency |
:
|
Singapore
dollars and cents
(SGD). |
| Weights
& Measures |
:
|
Metric
with local variations |
| Country
Code |
:
|
+65 |
The Flag
The red and white of the Singapore flag represent red for brotherhood and equality; white for purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the rise, while the five stars stand for Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
The crescent moon originally
served as a symbol of
assurance to the Malays
in 1959 - the year the
flag was designed -
that Singapore was not
a Chinese state. Today,
it is generally said
that the moon signifies
a young nation rising.
The flag was initially
to have three stars,
until concern was expressed
that Singapore might
be perceived to have
associations with the
Malayan Communist Party;
the flag of which also
had three stars. The
flag was originally
meant to be totally
red as red is a very
traditional Chinese
color, but again the
fear of Communism in
those days caused this
idea to be abandoned.
Events
& Public Holidays
As
a result of Singapore’s
richly diverse population,
various holidays and
religious festivals
are celebrated throughout
the year. These are
mostly based on Chinese,
Hindu or Islamic calendars
and fall on different
dates each year. Christian
holidays based on the
Gregorian calendar are
also widely observed.
Public
Holidays (2006)
|
| New
Year's Day |
Sunday*
1 January
2006 |
|
|
| Hari
Raya Haji |
Tuesday
10 January
2006 |
|
| This
Muslim festival
falls on the 10th
day of the 12th
month of the Islamic
calendar and celebrates
pilgrimage (or
haj) to Mecca.
On this day, after
early morning
prayers, goats
and sheep are
slaughtered and
the meat distributed
to worshippers
and the poor. |
|
| Chinese
New Year |
Sunday**
29 January
2006, Monday
30 January
2006 |
|
| The
Chinese Lunar
New Year is greeted
with much rejoicing
and celebrations
over 15 days.
For many days
prior to Chinese
New Year day,
families are busy
cleaning and decorating
their homes in
the auspicious
colours of red,
orange and gold.
The celebrations
centre around
the family reunion
dinner. It is
a time to reaffirm
ties with family
and friends. |
|
| Good
Friday |
Friday
14 April
2006 |
|
| The
date of this major
Christian festival
varies each year
and commemorates
the death of Jesus
Christ with special
church services.
The following
Sunday –
Easter –
is a joyful occasion
celebrating the
resurrection of
Jesus. Symbols
closely associated
with this ceremony
include lilies,
coloured eggs
and chocolate
bunnies. |
|
| Labour
Day |
Monday
1 May 2006 |
|
|
| Vesak
Day |
Friday
12 May 2006 |
|
| Occurring
on the full moon
of the lunar month
of Vesakhu, this
is the most important
celebration in
the Buddhist calendar
that honours the
birth, enlightenment
and Nirvana of
Lord Buddha. Monks
chant holy verses
while devotees
pour perfumed
water over statues
of Lord Buddha.
Meals are provided
for the poor on
this day of charity. |
|
| National
Day |
Wednesday
9 August
2006 |
|
| Singapore
celebrates the
anniversary of
its independence
from Malaysia
and its emergence
as the Republic
of Singapore in
1965. It culminates
with colourful
performances and
spectacular firework
displays over
the city. |
|
| Deepavali |
Saturday
21 October
2006 |
|
| The
festival of lights
is a time of rejoicing
for Hindus and
falls on the new
moon of the 7th
month. Several
myths revolve
around this day,
but they all point
to the victory
of light (good)
over darkness
(evil). Oil lamps
or candles are
placed in the
windows and at
the entrances
of Hindu homes
as the sun sets,
while Little India
is festooned with
garlands and lights
for several weeks. |
|
| Hari
Raya Puasa |
Tuesday
24 October
2006 |
|
| This
Islamic festival
marks the end
of Ramadan –
a month of abstinence,
fasting and charity
for all able-bodied
Muslims. Ramadan
sees Geylang Serai
comes alive after
sunset for the
breaking of the
daily fast with
wonderful decorations
and stalls selling
all manner of
items. On the
day itself, special
prayers are held
in mosques with
Muslims offering
thanksgiving and
donating alms. |
|
| Christmas
Day |
Monday
25 December
2006 |
|
| Honouring
the birth of Jesus
Christ, Christian
go to church,
sing carols and
exchange presents
on this day. Despite
its religious
origins, it is
a holiday celebrated
by most in Singapore
with Orchard Road
festooned with
festive lights
and Christmas
decorations. |
|
| Hari
Raya Haji |
Sunday***
31 December
2006 |
|
| Honouring
the birth of Jesus
Christ, Christian
go to church,
sing carols and
exchange presents
on this day. Despite
its religious
origins, it is
a holiday celebrated
by most in Singapore
with Orchard Road
festooned with
festive lights
and Christmas
decorations. |
|
*
The following Monday
will be a public holiday
** The following Tuesday,
31st January 2006, will
be a public holiday
*** The following Tuesday,
2nd January 2007, will
be a public holiday
Other
Events *
|
| Ponggal |
(3
days, mid-Jan) |
|
|
| Hindu
harvest festival;
celebrated at
various locations
& Little India |
|
| Thaipusam |
(1
day, Jan/Feb) |
|
| One
of Singapore’s
most spectacular
festivals, this
is a Hindu religious
event honouring
Lord Murugan.
Little India. |
|
| Singapore
River Raft
Race |
(Feb) |
|
| Rafts
made from recycled
rubbish are raced
down the Singapore
River. |
|
| Singapore
International
Festival
For Children |
(Mar) |
|
|
| Singapore
International
Comedy Festival |
(2
weeks, Mar) |
|
|
| Singapore
Fashion
Festival |
(2
weeks, Mar/Apr) |
|
|
| Singapore
Food Festival |
(4
weeks, Mar/Apr) |
|
|
| International
Latin Festival |
(2
days, Apr) |
|
|
|
|
| Spring
festival of All
Souls’ Day.
Chinese commemorate
their ancestors
by tending to
ancestral graves,
urns and ancestral
tablets in temples. |
|
| Singapore
International
Film Festival |
(2
weeks, Apr) |
|
|
| Singapore
Rugby Sevens |
(Apr) |
|
|
| Singapore
Arts Festival |
(3
weeks, May/Jun) |
|
| Festival
featuring international
dance, music and
drama. |
|
| The
Great Singapore
Sale |
(May/Jun) |
|
| Annual
2-week islandwide
shopping bonanza
with incredible
sales and all-night
shopping at certain
areas. |
|
| Starlight
Cinema Festival |
(Jun) |
|
| A
month of outdoor
screenings of
popular movies
at Fort Canning
Green. |
|
| Singapore
Dragon Boat
Festival |
(Jun) |
|
| Dragon
boat racing commemorating
ancient Chinese
patriot and poet,
Qu Yuan, at Marina
Bay. |
|
| Hungry
Ghosts Festival |
(Jul/Aug) |
|
| Month-long
Taoist festival
to appease wandering
souls with street
banquets, offerings
and operas. |
|
| WOMAD
Singapore |
(Aug/Sep) |
|
| International
music festival
at Fort Canning
Park. |
|
| Mid-Autumn
Festival |
(Aug/Sep) |
|
| Also
known as Mooncake
Festival or Lantern
Festival, this
Chinese tradition
celebrates the
autumn harvest. |
|
|
|
| Hindu
fire-walking festival
at the Sri Mariamman
Temple that can
be traced to the
Indian epic, The
Mahabharata. |
|
| Singapore
International
Marathon |
(Dec) |
|
|
| *
dates might vary. |
The
Arm Of The Law
Singapore's
government is firm on
drug laws with the death
penalty applicable to
drug trafficking. Laws
are also in place against
the entry of firearms,
controlled drugs, endangered
species of wildlife
and cigarette lighters
in the shape of a firearm.
Chewing gum, infamously,
is banned from sale
in Singapore. Despite
drawing criticisms for
being a “nanny
state” from other
countries, Singapore
as a result is thankfully
free of stale gum on
the undersides of tables
and seats.
More recently, as prices
of cigarettes rose,
strict laws were put
in place to restrict
the entry of cigarettes
into the country whether
for personal consumption
or otherwise. The crackdown
on smoking also extends
to the banning of smoking
in public buses, the
MRT, taxis, lifts and
air-conditioned places.
Littering and vandalism
is also heavily frowned
upon and carries heavy
penalties from fines
of up to SGD$1,000 and
corrective work order
to jail terms and caning.
Another infamous episode
of Singapore's legal
history occurred with
the Michael Fay incident;
where a young American
was sentenced to a 4-month
jail sentence, a fine
of SGD$3,500 as well
as 6 strokes of the
cane for vandalism.
The proposed caning
predictably caused an
uproar with Americans,
and U.S. pressure eventually
got the Singapore government
to reduce the sentence
to 4 strokes of the
cane.
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