Singapore Chingay Parade - History and Information
The Chingay Parade is an annual street parade held in Singapore and Penang, Malaysia as part of Chinese New Year festivities. In recent years, the parade has grown to become a massive street parade, boasting an impressive array of dancers, jugglers, percussionists, street floats, dragon and lion dancers, acrobats and clowns, among others.
The word Chingay is from the Hokkien dialect, meaning €the art of masquerade€. In 1973, this festival began as a neighbourhood parade with only Chinese element but today the parade has evolved to be the grandest floats and street parade in Asia, showcasing the rich multi-culturalism of Singapore as well as exciting cultures all over the world.
The parade has its origins in China. It was held to welcome the season of spring for two weeks after the Lunar New Year. It was also held to worship and enjoy with the deity. The first Chingay performers juggled, danced and waved huge flags on shoulder-carried floats. These people also had their faces thickly painted and wore elaborate costumes.
Over the years, the performing troupes competed against each other. And because of that, the floats were becoming more and more colorful, only the most beautiful women were allowed to sit atop the floats and donkeys were increasingly used to pull the floats.
In the 1990s, Chingay parade became an evening-to-night event, complete with a stunning display of lights and other pyrotechnics. Over the years, the route for the Chingay parade has covered most of the central areas of Singapore like Orchard Road, City Hall, Outram Park and Chinatown.
In Penang, the Chingay Parade was held for float decorating competition. By 1960s, the practice of float decoration spread to the rest of Malaya and eventually became associated with Chinese New Year. In 1926, the second Chingay procession was held to celebrate the birthday of God of Prosperity. And in 1957, the third Chingay procession was held in celebration of the centenary of the City Council of George Town, Penang.
Since firecrackers were banned in 1972 in Singapore because there were two persons died from faulty firecracker explosions during the Chinese New Year, and therefore on 4 February 1973, Chingay Singapore was born to keep the festive atmosphere up, and since then the Chingay's history was changed forever. Singapore's first Chingay was an all-Chinese affair €" dragon/lion dances, martial arts demonstration, big-head dolls, waving of huge flags and stiltwalkers. It was a huge success that year.
The word Chingay is from the Hokkien dialect, meaning €the art of masquerade€. In 1973, this festival began as a neighbourhood parade with only Chinese element but today the parade has evolved to be the grandest floats and street parade in Asia, showcasing the rich multi-culturalism of Singapore as well as exciting cultures all over the world.
The parade has its origins in China. It was held to welcome the season of spring for two weeks after the Lunar New Year. It was also held to worship and enjoy with the deity. The first Chingay performers juggled, danced and waved huge flags on shoulder-carried floats. These people also had their faces thickly painted and wore elaborate costumes.
Over the years, the performing troupes competed against each other. And because of that, the floats were becoming more and more colorful, only the most beautiful women were allowed to sit atop the floats and donkeys were increasingly used to pull the floats.
In the 1990s, Chingay parade became an evening-to-night event, complete with a stunning display of lights and other pyrotechnics. Over the years, the route for the Chingay parade has covered most of the central areas of Singapore like Orchard Road, City Hall, Outram Park and Chinatown.
In Penang, the Chingay Parade was held for float decorating competition. By 1960s, the practice of float decoration spread to the rest of Malaya and eventually became associated with Chinese New Year. In 1926, the second Chingay procession was held to celebrate the birthday of God of Prosperity. And in 1957, the third Chingay procession was held in celebration of the centenary of the City Council of George Town, Penang.
Since firecrackers were banned in 1972 in Singapore because there were two persons died from faulty firecracker explosions during the Chinese New Year, and therefore on 4 February 1973, Chingay Singapore was born to keep the festive atmosphere up, and since then the Chingay's history was changed forever. Singapore's first Chingay was an all-Chinese affair €" dragon/lion dances, martial arts demonstration, big-head dolls, waving of huge flags and stiltwalkers. It was a huge success that year.
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