With 2019 behind us, it’s time to start a brand new year AND begin a whole new decade, while we’re at it!
Here’s what’s happening in Singapore in the month of January…
Light to Night Festival (10 to 19 January)
January is an exciting time to indulge in the Arts scene here. The year begins with an artistic flair with the Singapore Art Week. The marquee event, Light to Night Festival takes place at iconic monuments in the Civic District including the National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall and Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay.
The festival returns for the 4th year running, with this year’s instalment promising to be bigger than ever. The whole downtown Civic District Area will light up in colourful lights and street decorations, presenting great Instagram opportunities everywhere. The iconic buildings of the district will be basked in light projections accompanied by music inspired by the theme, Invisible Cities.
This is also a fun time to bring the whole family for a picnic as the festival grounds will be transformed into a carnival space with food and art stalls. Expect craft beers and creative food inspired by traditional recipes. Truly a time to treat your palette to various street foods like skewered meats, braised dishes from Taiwan and fusion Japanese Takoyaki to name a few.
Pongal Festival (14 to 17 January)
Pongal is a festival celebrated by the Indian community, particularly those of South Indian roots. The festival celebrates the harvest and hard work of the farmers. In fact, the name “Pongal” actually refers to a mixture of sweet boiled rice that is offered to the Sun deity Surya, who is venerated for 3 days.
During the 3 days Indian households and temples will feature kolams on the floor, which are colourful motifs drawn using rice powder. These wonderful geometric shapes are believed to bring good luck and prosperity to homes.
Cows play a significant role in Pongal. They are considered sacred and are revered by Hindus and even referred to in the Vedas as associated with Aditi, the mother of all the Gods. During Pongal, some temples will “rent” cows to be paraded on the streets, blessing all the people of the procession.
To remember the work they do, like ploughing the fields and providing milk, the cattle are scrubbed and their horns painted. The cows are festooned with multi-coloured beads, tinkling bells and flower garlands. Truly, in modern Singapore, the Pongal procession is a unique and venerable insight into the roots of our large Indian community.
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Chinese New Year this year will be celebrated on the 25th and 26th January. However, the festivities begin in the weeks leading up to the actual dates. Traditionally, Chinatown is the goto place to soak in the bright lights, and roaring cymbals and trumpets. And although fireworks are banned in Singapore, the sound of loud poppers and traditional music in every corner fills the air and adds to the festive ambience.
Rows of seasonal stalls sell sweets and delights that are hard to come by for the rest of the year. Pineapple tarts are a must try, and there are many varieties to choose from, depending on sweetness and… tartness. Another favourite are fruit jellies wrapped in cute paper packaging, almost lantern shaped. Our advise? Just get a bit of everything!
The Chinese New Year bazaar in Chinatown is also a great place to find traditional clothes and trinkets. Many stalls and shops sell earrings, bangles, and cheongsams (the elegant Chinese dress for ladies) at attractive prices. If you haggle though, you’d simply be pressed to buy more merchandise. It is also the year of the Rat, so expect to see cute rat-themed toys, cushions, and wall decorations everywhere.
Of course, for most of the folks who visit Chinatown, it’s not just about the festivities and indulgence. This is actually the time to diligently stock up on customary New Year’s snacks and feast ingredients. On 25th January, Chinese families will be busy visiting friends and family, and the quality of the prepared food is a matter of serious pride. Just take a look at the shops selling Bak Kwa, a kind of grilled savoury-sweet square-cut meat slices, with the well-known shops having snaking queues almost daily.
So if you are heading to Singapore this January, make plans to soak in the festive atmosphere and enjoy all the events happening this month!
