Singapore Public Holidays 2019

Looking for the dates of Singapore Public Holidays 2019? Singapore is a country of diversity and harmony, and our public holidays reflect that, honouring and respecting many cultures and traditions.

In Singapore every working adult who is covered by the Employment Act is entitled to 11 public holidays a year. This allows Singaporeans of all beliefs to celebrate the diverse number of cultures that make up Singapore equally and respectfully. These 11 public holidays are New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year (two days), Good Friday, Labour Day, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Puasa/Aidilfitri, National Day, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali and Christmas Day.

To find out their exact dates, as well as your rights and responsibilities regarding unpaid leave and compensation for working on a public holiday, read the full article.

Singapore Public Holidays 2019
Check out our awesome holiday calendar of Public Holidays in Singapore 2019 as well as our Singapore Long Weekend 2019 short getaway from Singapore today!

Date	Day	Holiday
01 Jan 2019*	Tueday	New Year’s Day
5 Feb 2019*	Tueday	Chinese New Year
6 Feb 2019*	Wednesday	Chinese New Year
19-Apr-19	Friday	Good Friday
1-May-19	Monday	Labour Day
18-May-19	Saturday	Vesak Day
5 Jun 2019*	Wednesday	Hari Raya Puasa
9-Aug-19	Friday	National Day
9-Nov-19	Sunday	Hari Raya Haji
28-Oct-19	Monday	Deepavali
25-Dec-19	Wednesday	Christmas Day

Singapore Public Holidays
The Singapore Employment Act acknowledges that some people may be required to work on a public holiday due to the nature of their job. In such cases, the employee should be paid an extra day’s salary and get a different day off in lieu of the public holiday they missed. Sometimes a public holiday in Singapore falls on a rest day or non-working day. In this case, the next working day is a paid holiday.

There are certain situations where a worker would not receive public holiday pay; for example, if they have agreed with their employer a period of unpaid leave which includes the date of the holiday. However, if they are on unpaid leave the day before or after the public holiday, their holiday pay is not affected. Another reason a worker may not receive public holiday pay is if they were absent without reason on a working day before or after the public holiday.

The Employment Act is the most important piece of legislation regarding labour in Singapore. Most working people in Singapore are covered by it, but there are exceptions. The worker must be under a contract of service with their employer. This includes foreign employees living in Singapore, and the law applies regardless of how many hours they work and how regularly they are paid. However, managers and executives earning over $4,500 per month, seafarers, domestic workers, statutory board employees and civil servants are not covered.


Singapore Public Holidays
The Singapore Employment Act acknowledges that some people may be required to work on a public holiday due to the nature of their job. In such cases, the employee should be paid an extra day’s salary and get a different day off in lieu of the public holiday they missed. Sometimes a public holiday in Singapore falls on a rest day or non-working day. In this case, the next working day is a paid holiday.

There are certain situations where a worker would not receive public holiday pay; for example, if they have agreed with their employer a period of unpaid leave which includes the date of the holiday. However, if they are on unpaid leave the day before or after the public holiday, their holiday pay is not affected. Another reason a worker may not receive public holiday pay is if they were absent without reason on a working day before or after the public holiday.

The Employment Act is the most important piece of legislation regarding labour in Singapore. Most working people in Singapore are covered by it, but there are exceptions. The worker must be under a contract of service with their employer. This includes foreign employees living in Singapore, and the law applies regardless of how many hours they work and how regularly they are paid. However, managers and executives earning over $4,500 per month, seafarers, domestic workers, statutory board employees and civil servants are not covered.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is the second of the two Christian religious holidays celebrated with Singapore public holidays, and takes place on 25th December every year. Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of the Christian faith.

Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah. Historians say that Christmas has been celebrated on this date since the fourth century, when a feast took place in Rome. Some of the traditions that take place at Christmas are derived from pagan winter festivals, such as giving gifts and the Yule log.

Christmas is a great excuse to shop ’til you drop, eat delicious festive food, and spend time with the family.

It is an integral part of the winter holiday season, and features heavily in the media during December. Christians and non-Christians decorate their homes with traditional decorations such as Christmas trees and lights.

On Christmas Day, people get together with family and friends to exchange presents and eat Christmas dinner. This typically features a range of traditional treats such as turkey, stuffing and cranberry.

Many public areas of Singapore are decorated with lights for Christmas, particularly the shopping streets. The most famous Christmas lights in Singapore can be seen on Orchard Road, the busiest shopping street, and they are considered to be among the best Christmas lights in the world. Although 25th December is a public holiday, shopping centres, restaurants and other amenities are still open, and they are often busy with non-Christians out enjoying their day off work. Restaurants often serve a special Christmas menu during December, putting a festive twist on their regular fare.

Christmas Church Services

Christians in Singapore often attend church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some churches hold a family service in the early evening on Christmas Eve, to allow those with children to attend at a reasonable hour, and a later service starting at around 11pm. Christians celebrate Christmas to remember the true meaning of Christmas and as a way to welcome the holiday, which can easily be forgotten in a modern, highly commercialised city such as Singapore.

Hari Raya Haji

Hari Raya Haji is the second of two Muslim holy days recognised with a public holiday in Singapore, along with Hari Raya Puasa.

Hari Raya Haji is the name used in Singapore for the religious holiday which is known in other Muslim countries as Eid al-Adha. The name describes a festival of sacrifice, with “Hari Raya” directly translating as “Celebration Day.” It begins as a solemn occasion, with a focus on prayer and remembrance, before the party atmosphere takes over.

All Muslim men and many Muslim women take part in the Hari Raya prayers, which are performed either at the mosque or a large open field, and must be offered in congregation. The prayers take place after the sun has completely risen, but before noon. Participants should be clean and nicely dressed in their best clothes for the occasion. After the prayers are completed, there is a sermon from the Imam.

The prayers are followed by a more celebratory time, when Muslims embrace and exchange the greeting “Eid Mubarak,” which means they are wishing each other a “blessed festival.” Children receive gifts and the day is spent with family and friends. The invite to the celebrations is extended to non-Muslim friends and neighbours, as an opportunity to improve relations with others in the community and introduce them to Islam culture and traditions.

If the family can afford it, they sacrifice their best halal animals (such as a cow, sheep or goat) to commemorate the selfless decision that Abraham made when he sacrificed his only son and the trust he put in God’s hands. It is important that the animals used are of a certain age and quality, to ensure that the owner is making a true sacrifice. The animal is then eaten in the form of a sacrificial meal, and the food is shared with those less fortunate to ensure that even poor members of the Muslim community can take part in the tradition. Haji (sacrifice) is the fifth pillar of Islam, and an obligation for all Muslims who can afford to participate.

Hari Raya Haji occurs on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar. The date of Hari Raya Haji on the Gregorian calendar varies because the Islamic calendar is 10 to 11 days shorter. Therefore, the date of Hari Raya Haji is 10 or 11 days earlier each year. It occurs around two months later than the other Muslim religious holiday, Hari Raya Puasa. If there is a natural disaster, the Hari Raya prayers can be delayed to the 11th or 12th days of Dhu al-Hijjah.

National Day Singapore

The National Day of Singapore is a celebration of the country’s independence. Singapore became independent from Malaysia in 1965, and this has been commemorated each year since then on 9th August. The National Day is a public holiday, which means everyone in Singapore has a day off work to enjoy the celebrations and spend time with family and friends.

The highlight of the day is the National Day Parade, often known as NDP for short. The venue for the event has changed over the years, and has recently been extended to two venues, the Padang (a large playing field in the Central Area) and The Float at Marina Bay (the world’s largest floating stage). The Padang was the location of the first ever National Day Parade in 1966, so it has historical significance and is located in the Central Area, but the city’s National Stadium has also been used frequently for the parade due to its large capacity.

The parade is a huge event, so popular that in 2003 a ticketing system was introduced to avoid overcrowding. Singaporean residents can register in a ticket lottery by submitting their email address or phone number. The Padang has a capacity of 27,000, while another 150,000 people watch the parade from the Marina Bay waterfront. Each year the parade has a different theme and slogan.

Before the official parade there is a pre-parade, featuring entertainment such as choirs, bands and sky-diving. Then, the parade itself is made up of a variety of important associations in Singapore, ranging from the police and armed forces to the Girl Guides and Scouts. When the Prime Minister arrives, the State Flag is raised and the National Anthem is played. There is a flypast by the Air Force and a mobile column of military vehicles. This is followed by a show with displays from various community groups, and a post-parade party with celebrity acts.

Also taking place on National Day is a rally, where the Prime Minister addresses the nation, in a speech similar to the President of the United States’ State of the Union Address. He talks about the challenges of the time and plans for the year ahead. The speech is delivered in English, Malay and Chinese, recognising the diverse cultures that co-exist in Singapore. The opposition MPs are invited to the rally, as well as the party in power.

Fireworks displays are another big part of the National Day celebrations, as the Singapore Fireworks Celebrations have been held since 2004 over several days at this time of year. Local and foreign teams launch their own fireworks displays, and the spectacular event attracts tourists from around the world.

Hari Raya Puasa

Hari Raya Puasa is one of two Islamic holy days marked with a public holiday in Singapore, along with Hari Raya Haji.

Hari Raya Puasa, also known to Singaporean Muslims as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, is the day when Muslims break fast at the end of Ramadan. This means they are once again allowed to eat and drink during the day, and this is celebrated with a huge feast. The celebration takes place not only in Singapore, but throughout the Muslim world.

Hari Raya Puasa occurs on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar. This means that the date of Hari Raya Puasa on the Gregorian calendar changes from year to year. As the Islamic calendar is 10 to 11 days shorter, Hari Raya Puasa falls 10 or 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar. In Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia, the name of the holy day differs from other countries, where it is more commonly known as Eid al-Fitr. The words Hari Raya mean “Celebration Day” and Puasa means “fasting.”

The feast is not the only tradition that takes place on Hari Raya Puasa. Even more important is performing the Aidilfitri Salat, an Islamic prayer. It has two parts, known as Rakats, and is unlike other Salats for various reasons. It can only be performed in congregation, and therefore Muslims usually meet in an open field or a large hall. It has six extra Takbirs, which is where the congregation raise their hands to their ears and say “Allāhu Akbar” (meaning “God is greatest”). Both men and women take part in the prayer, but they must pray in separate locations or rooms.

Before the Aidilfitri Salat, Muslims must pay a religious tax called the Zakat. This money, calculated based on how much the individual earns or has in savings, is paid to collectors who then distribute it to the Muslim poor, new converts to Islam, the Islamic clergy, and other suitable causes.

Many Muslims in Singapore are of Malaysian descent, so the celebrations of Hari Raya Puasa are similar in the two countries. It is a day of homecoming, when people working in the city will typically return home to visit their families and ask for forgiveness from their elders. Hari Raya Puasa is a joyful day of celebration for Muslims, when kindness, sharing and forgiveness is valued.

The traditional greeting on the day is “Salam Aidilfitri” or “Selamat Hari Raya,” similar to “Happy Christmas” or “Happy New Year” in other religions. Muslims both male and female wear a special outfit called the “baju kurung,” a traditional Malaysian costume which consists of a long shirt worn over a skirt or trousers of matching fabrics. It is usually colourful and often patterned.

Vesak Day

Vesak Day is a Singapore Public Holiday and an important holy day in the Buddhist faith, on which Buddhists commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. It is also known as “Buddha’s Birthday.”

Gautama Buddha, often simply called Buddha, was a wise Indian man whose teachings formed the base of the religion of Buddhism. He is believed to have lived at some time between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. His philosophy is known as the Middle Way, as he found a way to combine sensual indulgence with the abstinence from worldly pleasures that were valued at the time he lived. His beliefs were passed down through oral tradition, and later in writing.

Vesak Day is celebrated with a public holiday in Singapore, where Buddhism is the most popular religion. 33.3% of people in Singapore identify themselves as Buddhists, which is a high number in a country with such a diverse culture and history. The date of Vesak Day varies from year to year, and even country to country, due to the different calendars followed. It takes place on the 15th day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This date is usually in May.

On Vesak Day, Buddhists visit their local temple before dawn. They attend a ceremony where they sing hymns and hoist the Buddhist flag. They usually bring offerings such as flowers and candles, which symbolise the fragility of life, and lay them at the feet of their spiritual leader. In Singapore, some of the major Buddhist temples include Lian Shan Shuang Lin Temple, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. Lian Shan Shuang Lin Temple is particularly well known as it is the oldest temple in Singapore, and the second largest in all of Asia.

During the day, Buddhists aim to do as many good deeds as possible, as they believe that they are worth more on Vesak Day. Some typical examples include giving blood, donating gifts to charities and those in need, and buying caged birds and animals to set them free. It is traditional to eat only vegetarian meals on Vesak Day. These good deeds and generous acts are known as Dana.

Buddhists also take part in rituals such as chanting mantras and the ceremonial bathing of statues of the baby Buddha, to symbolise a fresh start and cleaning away the bad deeds to replace them with good deeds. In the evening, Buddha statues are illuminated, and there is a candlelit street procession.

Some of the Vesak Day traditions differ depending on the heritage of each follower, which varies due to the diverse backgrounds of the residents of Singapore. Most Chinese Singaporean Buddhists follow the Mahayana strand of Buddhism, while those with a Sri Lankan or Burmese background are more likely to follow Theravada Buddhism. Their rituals include cooking a pot of rice and milk, which commemorates Buddha’s last meal before he began to fast to achieve enlightenment.

Labour Day

Labour Day is celebrated on 1st May every year, and is therefore also known as May Day. Its purpose is to show support for workers in Singapore, and therefore it is fitting that Labour Day is a public holiday, and a day off for most people. If 1st May falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be a public holiday in lieu.

In Singapore, Labour Day became a public holiday in 1960. The public holiday was introduced by the PAP (People’s Action Party) when they came into power and introduced paid holidays for all workers. 1960 was also the year of the first official May Day Rally, which featured a speech by the Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, considered to be the founding father of independent Singapore. The theme of the speech in that year was the new government, as the PAP had recently been elected, and the trade union movement. Lee Kuan Yew promised that his party would always be on the side of the workers.

Labour Day is not only a day of rest for workers in Singapore, but also a day of remembrance. Labour Day honours everyone who has worked hard to make Singapore a powerful, wealthy nation known for its high standard of living, education and healthcare. The public holiday ensures that all workers, no matter how junior or senior they are in their job, have a day to relax and celebrate with their colleagues, friends and family.

Labour Day is also a time to look back at the achievements workers have made in Singapore by sticking together and standing up for their rights. There is a history of rallies and protests taking place on Labour Day, which over the years have contributed to changes in the country that made life better for working people.

Singapore gained independence and became a republic in 1965, and in its early days the speeches and atmosphere at the rallies were militant, as the trade unions were still struggling against the effects of colonialism. Over time, as progress was made, the rallies became more of a celebration rather than a protest, recognising the shared value of equality and fairness and the country’s move away from the exploitation that had been rife in the past.

Today in Singapore, Labour Day is celebrated with a party called the May Day Fiesta, held at various venues including the popular amusement park Universal Studios and the giant ferris wheel Singapore Flyer. There are activities for children and concerts featuring famous artists. However, the May Day Rally is still considered an important part of the long weekend, and Singaporeans make sure that the original reason for the public holiday is not forgotten.