Chingay parade

The Chingay Parade is an exciting annual street parade held in Malaysia and Singapore as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It usually marks the birthdays of Chinese deities or honors the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. The name "Chingay" comes from the Hokkien language, mixing two words that mean "true art" and "art of costume."

The parade brings together people from all communities in Malaysia and Singapore to enjoy colorful performances, music, and lively costumes. In November 2024, Singapore and Malaysia began working together to ask UNESCO to add the Chingay Parade to its list of important cultural traditions from around the world. They plan to submit their request in March 2025, and we will know by the end of 2026 if it is accepted.

Origin

The Chingay parade is a special celebration held during Chinese New Year in Malaysia and Singapore. It marks the birthdays of Chinese deities or the procession of the Goddess of Mercy. Long ago, over 100 years back, English newspapers in Malaysia called this event the "Chingay Procession."

Chingay began in China and was first performed by Chinese people in Penang during processions for deities. It is a street art where performers balance giant flags that are very tall and heavy. Today, Chingay is enjoyed by people of all races in Malaysia and Singapore, making it a colorful and exciting event for everyone.

Chingay in Malaysia

The Chingay Parade was named a National Cultural Heritage in 2012.

Penang

The Chingay Parade started from a float decorating competition in Penang in 1905. This tradition spread through Malaya by the 1960s and became linked to Chinese New Year celebrations.

The second Chingay parade happened in 1926 to celebrate the birthday of the God of Prosperity. The third was in 1957 for the 100th anniversary of the City Council of George Town.

To keep Chingay alive, the Chinese community in Malaysia worked together in the 1960s to form a committee for Penang Chingay.

Today, a Chingay parade is held every December in George Town. This fun event starts in the evening from Brick Kiln Road (now Gurdwara Road), moves through the city streets, and ends at the Esplanade.

Johor

The Chingay parade in Johor happens every year on the 21st day of the first month of the Lunar New Year. It is organized by the Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple and includes five main clans: Cantonese, Hainanese, Hakka, Hoklo, and Teochew.

Chingay in Singapore

In 1972, the Singapore government banned fireworks because of safety concerns. This made many people unhappy because they couldn't celebrate the Lunar New Year the usual way. To bring back the fun, the government decided to hold a Chingay parade.

The first Chingay parade was held on February 4, 1973, from Jalan Besar to Outram Park. It included exciting performances like floats, acrobatic acts, lion and dragon dances, stilt walkers, and more. Over time, the parade became more multi-cultural, with Malay and Indian groups joining in. In 1985, the parade moved to Orchard Road, a popular shopping area, to attract more tourists. The parade later moved to different locations, including City Hall and Chinatown, before returning to Orchard Road. In 2018, the parade included smart technology like dancing robots and driverless cars. The 2019 parade celebrated Singapore's history, and in 2020, it was replaced by an online event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main article: Lunar New Year
Main articles: People's Association · Lee Kuan Yew · Jalan Besar · Outram Park · Malay · Indian · Orchard Road · Japan · The Straits Times · City Hall · Chinatown district · The Esplanade · Marina Bay Street Circuit · Channel NewsAsia · Teresa Teng · Sir Stamford Raffles · Kingdom of Singapura · Temasek · COVID-19 pandemic