Singapore
Lifestyle
Marriage and Family
Traditionally, all three of the main ethnic groups in Singapore have encouraged large families. This created problems for many because of the limited living space, so in the 1970s the government launched a vigorous family-planning campaign. The plan encouraged each couple to have no more than two children. It had such success that the population growth rate slowed to that of many Western nations and the government began to worry that there would not be enough young people to support the increasing number of old people.

Therefore, in the 1980s families were encouraged to have three or more children. The government even set up a Social Development Unit to encourage young people who had finished their education to meet and marry. Today, although families are much smaller than they were 25 years ago, the old values of cooperation, loyalty, mutual support, and respect for elders remain firmly entrenched. Arranged marriages used to be common, but are now rare. It is against the law to have children without being married.
Diet and Eating
Rice is the dietary staple, and seafood is particularly popular. A wide variety of cuisine is available, ranging from Chinese, Indian, Malay and Japanese to French and Russian. The food markets serve delicious food at a fraction of the price of mainstream restaurants, and standards of hygiene are highly regulated.

Socializing
Specific greetings and other customs depend on nationality and age group. However, a handshake is the most common gesture of greeting, with the addition of a slight bow for the Chinese and older people. While various languages are used for greetings, English is common and acceptable. Between business representatives and other officials, the exchange of business cards often accompanies a greeting and is quite a serious ritual; the card should be held with both hands at the corners and studied carefully. It should not be bent or folded, as this indicates disrespect for the giver of the card.

Visitors are expected to arrive punctually for meetings and other events. Compliments are appreciated by hosts, but are politely denied for modesty's sake. If a gift is given to a host or guest, it is not opened immediately. Shoes are removed when visiting religious buildings, such as temples, shrines, and mosques. Most families also require that shoes be removed before entering the home.

Recreation
Badminton, basketball, squash, tennis, golf (Singapore has more golf courses than any other city in Southeast Asia), sailing, and other water sports are all popular. Cricket, rugby, and polo also have their devotees. Horse races are both a social event and an outlet for the Chinese enthusiasm for gambling. Cultural arts such as dance and music have become more established, and Singaporeans are as keen on cinema and television as many in the West, although censorship laws are strict. There is a strong interest in martial arts such as tae kwon do, and a number of senior citizens enjoy t'ai chi ch'uan, an ancient Chinese exercise and fighting system, as well as the French game of pétanque.

Holidays and Celebrations
The national holidays include International New Year (1 January), Chinese New Year (date varies according to the Chinese lunar calendar, usually in February), Easter (including Good Friday), Labour Day (1 May), Vesak Day, Singapore National Day (9 August), and Christmas Day (25 December).

Vesak Day, during the fifth lunar month, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and attainment of nirvana of Buddha. It is the holiest of Buddhist holy days and is celebrated with candlelit processions around temples and the decoration of homes with paper lanterns. National Day commemorates Singapore’s gaining of independence in 1965. A dazzling parade flows through the streets, and traditional dances and fireworks are featured in the celebration.

Hari Raya Puasa is a feast at the end of the Islamic month-long fast of Ramadan. This feast in Singapore is unique because other religions are welcome to join in a celebration that expresses tolerance and renewal. Hari Raya Haji is a holy day of prayer for Muslims who have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah), which is one of the tenets of Islam. Animals are ritually sacrificed, and the meat is distributed to the needy at mosques and public stadiums.

Deepavali (Festival of Lights) is important to Hindus and Sikhs and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Thousands of lights decorate shops and homes from mid-October to mid-November, and the festival is celebrated by all people in Singapore as a time of goodwill.

Although the International New Year is observed, the Chinese New Year is a much more impressive celebration. Traditional activities engaged in at this time include making offerings to household gods, cleaning the house, settling personal debts, wearing new clothes, and enjoying special meals. The colour red, bright lights, and noise (including firecrackers), all thought to frighten away evil spirits, have become the hallmarks of this celebration.

The Festival of the Nine Imperial Gods, in the first nine days of the ninth lunar month, derives from an ancient Chinese cleansing ritual. Elaborate symbolic rites are observed at this time; for example, to enter a temple, one must cross a specially built bridge, and it is believed that the evils of the year are shed as one crosses the bridge.