In 2013, I got my free ticket from a performer in Chingay 2013. Hence, I went alone. (I am still trying to find out whether I did take any picture! haha)
This year marks the 42nd year of the annual event, I am happy to be able to see the Parade 1 on 7 February 2014, all thanks to my friend. He was one of the helper in the parade. Guess this is a reward for being such a wonderful friend? XD.
This year was "the Most Colourful and Grandest Chingay ever"! I couldn't agree more. There are 8,000 multi-ethnic performers, World Longest and Largest 360-metre beautiful batik art, 4-metre tall Giant Artistic Puppets contingent, First Time Ge Tai in Chingay, 700-children ballet performance, First-of-its-kind outdoor community drama, Exotic groups from various countries such as Italy, Korea, Philippines and China and Grandest Finale by 3,000 performers presenting 720-metre long of colourful hand knitted tapestries. Okay, all are quoted from the website, but they are all true. I can feel it since I am there personally. I also uploaded snips of the event on Instagram, click here to take a look!
Not all but most of the floats and the performances are great! Babes and hunks (half naked on NUS's Magic Playground) on the float simply make the float more eye-catching! haha. I remember I did vote for 2013 but not sure who won. This year, the voting contest is back for the two categories, Most Popular Chingay Contingent and Most Popular Chingay Float.
The only thing I love from this year's goodie bag (or fun pack) is... the ONE PEOPLE scarf. Really nice... I would prefer the word SINGAPORE though! haha... Okay, I am patriotic. I am proud to be Singaporean! haha... Anyway, I hope I got a chance to participate in next year's Chingay.
Probably I will ask my friend to let me join PAYM too! Looks fun!
p/s: will upload photos soon!
History of Chingay
Vibrant floats, dancing dragons, prancing lions, stilt walkers, wushu master, performers of different races in their traditional costumes and many, many more...
This National Event is also the largest street performance and float parade in Asia. From the main parade site to the heartlands, this street extravaganza epitomises the dynamism of Singapore's vibrant and multicultural society.
The word Chingay is equivalent to the Mandarin zhuang yi (妆艺), which means "the art of costume and masquerade" in the Hokkien dialect.
The word Chingay is equivalent to the Mandarin zhuang yi (妆艺), which means "the art of costume and masquerade" in the Hokkien dialect.
The First Formal Chingay Parade in Singapore was mooted by the then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who was also the chairman of the People's Association (PA). Chingay, with all its noise and gaiety, would compensate for the ban on firecrackers, a customary New Year practice to drive away evil spirits.
For its first street parade on 4 February 1973, the PA teamed up with the Singapore National Pugilistic Federation for a grand show in the Year of the Ox, depicting aspects of Chinese culture – dragon and lion dances, martial arts and street opera.
So well received was the first Chingay Parade that the PA made it an annual festival. It celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012.
For its first street parade on 4 February 1973, the PA teamed up with the Singapore National Pugilistic Federation for a grand show in the Year of the Ox, depicting aspects of Chinese culture – dragon and lion dances, martial arts and street opera.
So well received was the first Chingay Parade that the PA made it an annual festival. It celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012.
Chingay took on a multicultural flavour from 1976.
Today, Chingay has become a uniquely Singaporean Lunar New Year tradition, held during the first weekend of the Lunar New Year. This yearly street parade is now a national festival, celebrated by Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians alike.
In 1987, Chingay featured its first foreign group when the city's main English newspaper, The Straits Times, sponsored four pop singers from Tokyo. Since then, this signature event had extended invitations to international artistes and troupes.
Indeed, for the scores of spectators, the Chingay Parade could well be a treasured glimpse into the different cultures of Singapore and the world. Here age, race, language and creed are no barriers. Here, we celebrate together as one.
(Source: Chingay.org.sg)