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Chingay

Chingay is a street parade held yearly in Singapore as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, usually on the first Saturday following Chinese New Year. Chingay is derived from two Chinese words zhuangyi which when translated means "a decorated miniature stage", a reference to the art of masquerading.

Background
In China, the Chingay is a procession held two weeks after the New Year celebrations to welcome spring. The Chingay procession in Asia had been practised amongst the Straits-born Chinese in Penang since the 19th century. It involved the balancing of a giant Chingay flag by a Chingay bearer accompanied by lion dancers, clowns, acrobats, musicians, and so on.

It was introduced in Singapore in 1973 as a substitute for use of firecrackers, which was banned in the previous year after a fatal explosion killed two people. The brainchild of Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister then, he suggested that the Chingay usually held in Penang be replicated in Singapore to add colour and excitement to the festival in place of firecrackers. The first parade was a neighbourhood event organised by the People's Association (PA) and the Singapore National Pugilistic Federation and held on 4 February 1973.

The Chingay has since been organised yearly by the People's Association (PA) at an average cost of S$2.3 million a year. Traditionally a purely Chinese procession, it is now supported by other culture groups and showcases exotic cultural performances from all over the world, with an average of 2000 local and foreign performers. Popularly called the "people's parade", the organisers market it as a street parade of international excellence, aiming for it to eventually become the Mardi Gras of the East.


Author
Sharon Chua



References
Ho, K. W. (2000, January 13). A new route -and beat -for Chingay. The Straits Times, Home, p. 44.

James, J. (2001, February 10). Log on to the Net for people's parade. The Straits Times, Home, p. 10.

Koh, B. P. (2000, December 20). Chingay gets its own vintage year. The Straits Times, p. 1.

Neo, H. M. (2001, February 6). A parade by 'the aunties and uncles next door'. The Straits Times, Home, Heartland Happenings, p. 3.

People's Association. (n.d.). Chingay. Retrieved January 14, 2002, from www.pa.gov.sg/chingay.html

People's Association. (n.d). Chingay 2002: The greatest street parade in Singapore. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14, 2002, from www.chingay.org.sg

Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak. (n.d.). Chingay. Retrieved January 14, 2002, from www.visitsarawak.com/wushu/chingay.html

Further Readings
Choo, S. B. (1991, February, 23). Chingay has come a long way in its 19 years here. The Straits Times, p. 23.

Tan, C. (1989, February 14). Chingay will be turned into a parade of lights. The Straits Times, Home, p. 14.

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. (1989.). Chingay '89 [Videotape]. Singapore: SBC.
(Call no.: RSING MV 394.2683 CHI)

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. (1987). Chingay '87 [Videotape]. Singapore: SBC.
(Call no.: RSING MV 394.2683 CHI)

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. (1986). Chingay '86 [Videotape]. Singapore: SBC.
(Call no.: RSING MV 394.5095957 CHI)



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library  for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Ethnic Communities>>Festivals and Celebrations
Parades--Singapore
Ethnic festivals--Singapore
Manners and customs
People and communities>>Customs>>Festivities

Librarian Recommendations
>> Chinese New Year ceremonies
>> Firecrackers


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