Social Life and Customs in Singapore

Singapore has a distinct set of customs. Its uniqueness can be attributed to the ethnic diversity of its residents. Three-fourth of the population is of Chinese heritage. The Malays are the second largest ethnic group, while the Indians are the third largest. Therefore, Singaporean customs are a blend of these three cultures. Most Singaporeans rely on non-verbal messages more than the spoken word, and are subtle, indirect and implicit in their communications. Silence is an important element of Singaporean communication; a pause before responding to a query indicates that much thought has been given to the response.

Greetings among Singaporeans follow a protocol often based on both the ethnic origin and the person's age. Ethnic Chinese and ethnic male Malays practice handshakes, as most westerners do. Malay men and women do not usually shake hands because Muslim men do not touch women in public. Ethnic Indians shake hands with members of the same sex. When being introduced to someone of the opposite sex, they merely nod the head and smile. As with most cultures, the elderly or the person with the most status is introduced first.

Business Etiquette in Singapore

Business interaction is more formal in Singapore. It follows rules of protocol and a strict chain of command. In Singapore personal relationships are the cornerstone of all business relationships. Singapore is a group-oriented culture, so associations are often based on ethnicity, education or workplace. Once you are established as part of the group, you are expected to obey its unwritten rules. You should always be respectful and courteous when dealing with others; direct confrontation and loud personalities are not appreciated, in general. Moreover, rank is always respected in Singapore. Thus, the eldest person in the group is revered and given priority in social interactions.

When it comes to business meetings or visits, appointments should be made in advance through writing, telephone, fax or e-mail. Punctuality is considered a strong virtue.

Dating Norms

The Singapore Department of Statistics is the National Statistical Authority responsible for statistics on Singapore's economy and population.  The Singapore Department of Statistics recorded that as of the end of 2007, among the age group 15 and over, 31.20% are single, 60.7% are married, 5.3% are widowed and 2.8% are divorced or separated. Meanwhile, 33% of the males are single, while 28.6% of the females are not married. The median age of men to get married is 29.8, while for females, it is 27.2. To view these figures for 2008, see Statistics Singapore - Singapore in Figures 2008.

More prudent Singaporeans prefer to date people they meet in school or within their neighborhood. The Singapore government has done its share in encouraging marriage as well. It has organized tea dances, wine tasting, cooking classes, cruises and screenings of romantic movies. Singapore has one of the highest Internet penetration rates in the world, thus, it is not unusual for the internet to become Singapore's most predominant matchmaker. Another one of the dating approach used in Singapore is speed dating. Speed dating allows singles to quickly meet people face to face in a safe environment.

Entertainment

Singapore offers a lot of entertainment options. Other than its colorful festivals throughout the year, Singapore also has concert halls and theatres, nightclubs, pubs, bars, recreational parks, resorts and cinemas. Other forms of entertainment in Singapore include the street operas and adventure sports.

There are over 40 parks and gardens in Singapore and eight nature reserves -- the Bukit Timah, Hindhede, Labrador, Lower Peirce, MacRitchie, Sungei, Upper Peirce and Upper Seletar Reservoir Parks. The National Parks Singapore (NParks), the country’s scientific authority on nature conservation, conserves, creates, sustains and enhances Singapore’s green infrastructure. Singapore also offers a number of resorts. Among the more popular ones are the Treasure Resort Sentosa Singapore and the Sentosa Resort and Spa, both located in Sentosa, the Costa Sands Resort in Pasir Ris and the Changi Village Hotel Singapore in the East Coast. Shopping is another interesting activity to do in Singapore. Some of the tourists' favorite places to shop in are Chinatown, Orchard, Bugis and Little India.

Singapore's Night Life

As night falls, life begins in many areas of Singapore. Singapore's night life caters to club hoppers, 24-hour food aficionados or even those who simply seek adventure. There are a lot of activities you can do in Singapore after sundown. You could enjoy a nice cold beer along the waterfront promenades of the Singapore River or sip a cocktail in the midst of historic buildings in the Civic District, or even listen to great down-tempo music and live bands in Orchard Road. You could also lounge around by the beachside bars in Sentosa, enjoy great wine in Tanglin Village, or head on down to Singapore's clubs and bars. There are no time limits to dining out in Singapore as well. Many of the restaurants in Singapore stay open past midnight. However, smoking is no longer allowed in all pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots, unless it is within approved smoking rooms.

There are also numerous night attractions in Singapore. Among those are the following:

• Fun Vee Night Hopper - This Double Decker Open Top will take you through Orchard Road, Civic District, Colonial District, Marina Area, Esplanade, Padang, Chinatown and Riverside.
• Ski 360°- This is Singapore’s first cable ski park.
• Sentosa 4D Magix - Sentosa 4D Magix presents the interactive experience with 4-dimensional digital effects.
• Singapore Night Safari - This night zoo houses over 900 animals of 135 exotic species in eight re-created to simulate various geographic zones.
• Late Night Museums - Among the late night museums in Singapore are the Asian Civilisations Museum, National Museum of Singapore, Red Dot Museum, Singapore Art Museum, and Royal Selangor Pewter Museum.

Night Shopping

Singapore is also considered one of Asia's shopping destinations. Day or night, you can find shoppers looking around for the best deals. Shopping and dining hours at Paragon, Tangs Orchard, Wisma Atria, The Centrepoint in Orchard Road are extended till 11:00 PM. Meanwhile, the Chinatown Night Market, located in Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street and Sago Street, offers a unique night market shopping experience with its traditional and modern merchandise and dance performances to entertain shoppers in the evenings. Singapore has a 24-hour shopping mall, the Mustafa Centre, which is located in Little India.

Cinemas

Cinemas in Singapore are scattered all over the island and offer a wide selection of movies with screening time that lasts up to the early hours in the morning. Many companies have invested huge amounts of money to establish modern, luxurious and extremely plush multiplex cinemas where local as well as international movies are shown.

The movie tickets are not very expensive. Stalls selling popcorn, burgers, fries and beverages are found in abundance near the movie halls.

Currently, there are over 30 cinemas all over Singapore. Among the more popular cinemas are the Golden Village Multiplexes, Shaw Cinemas, Cathay Cineplexes, and Cinemania which located in Sentosa.

Festivals in Singapore

There is always something to celebrate in Singapore. The rich mixture of cultures brings forth a variety of colorful festivals centered on religion, age-old myths and traditions or the family. Among the most famous festivals celebrated in Singapore are:

• Chinese New Year - This is an exceptionally festive time for Singapore and it takes place for 42 days during January or February, depending on the Chinese calendar. The Chingay Parade is Singapore's grandest street festival which celebrates the Chinese New Year.
• Hari Raya Puasa – This signals the end of Ramadan with three days of celebrations.
• Thaipusam - This is held at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and Sri Thandayuthapani Temple in Little India.
• Singapore Fashion Festival - This offers a preview to the season’s trendiest styles through a series of fashion shows.
• Singapore Arts Festival - This is an eclectic mix of dance, drama and music from around the world.
• National Day - The National Day Parade promises a fun-filled occasion with cultural dances and fireworks.
• Deepavali - This is a very important Hindu holiday where Little India's streets and temples are decorated with lights and garlands and crowds gather in the Sri Mariamman Temple to watch the barefoot Hindu devotees walk across a pit of red hot embers.
• Singapore River Buskers' Festival - Talented street performers from around the world gather on the walkways of Orchard Road, along the Singapore riverbank and Marina Bay.
• Singapore River Fiesta - The event features a calendar of exciting activities all held at the nation's historic river.

Local Community Centers

Community centers are public locations where members of a community may congregate for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes.

In Singapore, these community centers are distinct buildings that are officially designated by the government. They play an urban planning role especially as part of Housing Development Board projects. Enrichment and grassroots organisation are their major functions. 

Social Clubs for Expatriates

Expatriates are people temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their legal residence. In Singapore, expatriates frequent numerous established social clubs and social activities clubs. Some of these clubs are the Pinetree Club, the Dutch Club, American Women's Association, the Japanese Association Singapore and the British Club. 

Support Groups

Support groups are informal resources that aim to provide healing components to different problems. Support groups are characterized by the mutual support members are able to provide one another.

Singapore offers a lot of support groups to cater to different problems and challenges. Among Singapore's support groups are Alcoholics Anonymous, Cancer Helpline - National Cancer Centre, Touch Diabetes Support, Samaritans of Singapore and several medical support groups. The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) provides a list of Singapore's support groups and helplines. 

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