OBVIOUS CULTURES IN SINGAPORE

Since Singapore is a cosmopolitan city, we can find different kinds of nationalities all around the city. The early immigrants are Chinese, Indians, Malays and Europeans. Different nationalities can comprise different kinds of cultures.


Chinese Culture

• Never buy clocks as gifts for Chinese friends. The Chinese words for "sending clocks" sounds almost the same as "sending you to your grave".
• Never put your chopsticks upright in your rice. Chopsticks in that situation resemble jossticks in an urn which is meant for funerals.
• Never point at people with chopsticks which is regarded as a very rude manner.

Chinese with NUMBERS

Most of the people, especially Chinese people believe that numbers can highly affect their life and destiny.

Number 4 : Bad luck for Chinese. In Chinese, the pronunciation of 4 sounds like 'death' and death is regarded as bad luck. They do not like the house or the car with number 4 or a combination like 14 = must die, 24 = easily dying, 44 = dying and dead, 74 = surely dead.

Number 8 : Money and Wealth. Chinese people are obsessed with number 8. The pronunciation of 8 sounds 'fa' and means the same as 'strike to rich'. So, their house, apartments, phone numbers and car numbers are composed mainly of number 8. The number 88, which means 'double happiness' is more popular on the doors for young married couples.


Malay Culture

• Malays in Singapore are Muslims and they eat only "Halal" foods.
  

• Muslims do not drink alchol and eat pork. Other meat such as poultry and beef have to be slaughtered under the Islamic way before they can be eaten. Restaurants with the "Halal" sign do not serve liquor. estaurants with the "Halal" sign/logo do not serve liquor.
• Never offer to shake the hands of Muslim ladies. A simple nod or smile will be fine for greeting.
• Muslims fast during the Ramadan month, usually the occasion is celebrated in the month of Ramadan on the Muslim calendar.

Indian Culture

• The Indian community in Singapore has three main faiths, the Hindus, the Muslims and the Christians.
  
• Almost all of the Indians in Singapore can speak and understand in English well, but their mother tongue is Tamil.
  
• Hindus do not eat beef as the cow is sacred in Hindu religion. Some are strict vegetians as they are Buddhists.

FESTIVALS

Chinese in Singapore:

Chinese New Year : the biggest festival celebratetd.





Muslims in Singapore:

Hari Raya Puasa : the celebration to mark the end of a month of fasting.
Hari Raya Haji : the time of prayer and rememberance.

Hindus in Singapore:

Tamil New Year : Indians' new year celebration in mid April.
Taipusam : the festival to thank their god for answering their prayers.
Deepavali : the festival of lights to signify victory of good over the evil within the individual.



Christians in Singapore :

Christmas : the celebration to honour the birth of Jesus.





**There are also some other small scale festivals still exists.

Ref: http://www.warrenssingapore.com/culture.htm

Photos Sources:

http://images.google.com.sg/images?hl=en&q=christmas%20in%20singapore&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

http://images.google.com.sg/images?um=1&hl=en&q=chinese+new+year+in+singapore&btnG=Search+Images http://www1.visitsingapore.com/resource/common/image/event/3DJPKampongGlam.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Deepavali,_Little_India,_Singapore,_Oct_06.JPG