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National Day (Singapore)

Public holiday in Singapore

Field	Value
holiday_name	National Day
type	national
image	{{Photomontage	position=center
photo1a	National Day Singapore early 1960s 02.jpg
photo1b	Fireworks during a National Day Parade rehearsal near Marina Bay Sands, Singapore - 20120728.jpg
photo2a	Glowing Wings in the Dark.jpg
photo3a	Singapore Airlines, Airbus A380-800 9V-SKI '50th anniversary of Singapore' NRT (20786371995).jpg
photo3b	20220809180914 R6 0775-02.jpg
size	300
spacing	2
color	white
border	0
official_name	National Day of Singapore
nickname	Singapore Independence Day
observedby	Singapore
longtype	National
significance	to celebrate Singapore's independence as a sovereign state
date	3 June (1960–1964)
9 August (1965–present)
celebrations	National Day Parade, National Day Message by the Prime Minister of Singapore, and fireworks celebrations
frequency	Annually

From top, left to right: Various commemorations of National Day over the decades 9 August (1965–present) National Day, sometimes known internationally as Singapore Independence Day, is a major public holiday in Singapore commemorating the establishment of an independent and sovereign Republic of Singapore. Observed annually on 9 August since 1965, it marks the date when Singapore became fully sovereign following its separation from Malaysia. The day is a statutory public holiday and features the National Day Parade (NDP), a National Day Message by the Prime Minister of Singapore and fireworks celebrations, among other festivities.

The NDP is a large-scale event featuring military and civil contingents, cultural performances and aerial displays. Alongside the parade, the Prime Minister delivers an annual message reflecting on national progress and future challenges. The holiday originates from the formal proclamation of Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965 that was drafted by the Minister for Law Edmund W. Barker and signed by prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Since then, National Day has become a focal point for national identity and unity among Singaporeans.

History

Date of National Day

1960–1964

10 cent stamps to commemorate National Day in 1962, which was held on 3 June

Singapore initially had a different date for National Day prior to 9 August, when it commemorated 3 June after achieving full internal self-governance from the United Kingdom in 1959. Between 1960 and 1964, Singapore celebrated National Day on 3 June to mark this occasion and the end of colonial rule.

Festivities

National Day Parade

Main article: Singapore National Day Parade

The Singapore National Day Parade is a national ceremony that is usually held at The Float @ Marina Bay, the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub, or the Padang. In 2007, the Parade was held at The Float @ Marina Bay for the first time, and in 2016, it was held at the Singapore Sports Hub. The parade includes performances that depict the yearly theme.

National Day Message

The National Day Message is an annual tradition on 9 August since 1966. In each year's recorded message, the Prime Minister of Singapore "examine[s] domestic and global developments, review[s] economic performance and outlook, and outline[s] national priorities and government plans as [he inspires] Singaporeans to move forward with a unified sense of purpose".

National Day Rally

Main article: Singapore National Day rally

On the first or second Sunday following National Day, the prime minister gives an address to the nation at a National Day Rally, which usually features discussions of the country's status and accomplishments, and announcements of future plans and policy changes.

Firework celebrations

Main article: Singapore Fireworks Celebrations

National Day celebrations also include fireworks celebrations. They feature several local and foreign teams which launch fireworks displays on different nights. First held in 2004 at Marina Bay, the event was initially known as the Singapore Fireworks Festival and organised by Unusual Productions. The amount of fireworks used has grown in magnitude over the past three years, from 4,000 rounds used in 2004 to over 9,000 in 2006. In 2012, a Mentos commercial encouraged procreation during the same time as the fireworks celebration.

Notes

References

Mahtani, Shibani. (10 August 2012). "Thursday's the Day to Go All the Way for Civic Duty in Singapore". Wall Street Journal.
(14 August 2015). "Proclamation of Singapore, 1965". [[National Archives of Singapore]].
"Singapore's first National Day celebrations".
(3 June 2019). "60 years ago, Singapore celebrated National Day on June 3. Here's why".
(7 August 2018). "National Day Messages".
Chew, Hui Min. (20 August 2016). "From babies to casinos: 11 memorable National Day Rally speeches". [[The Straits Times]].
Mahtani, Shibani. (10 August 2012). "THE A-HED August 10, 2012, 8:08 a.m. ET Thursday's the Day to Go All the Way for Civic Duty in Singapore". [[Wall Street Journal]].

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

annual-events-in-singapore national-days august-observances public-holidays-in-singapore independence-days

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