Singapore Good Friday Holiday
Good Friday is one of the two Christian holidays celebrated in Singapore. Under the Singapore Employment Act, public holidays for the upcoming years from Good Friday 2020 are as follows:
Date | Day | Holiday |
---|---|---|
19 Apr 2019 | Friday | Good Friday 2019 |
10 Apr 2020 | Friday | Good Friday 2020 |
2 Apr 2021 | Friday | Good Friday 2021 |
15 Apr 2022 | Friday | Good Friday 2022 |
7 Apr 2023 | Friday | Good Friday 2023 |
29 Mar 2024 | Friday | Good Friday 2024 |
Note: The dates in the table above are an estimate and will be updated once official dates are announced.
Discover the Best Things to see and do during Good Friday in Singapore
Good Friday is another Christian holiday in Singapore. It commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Similar to the other public holiday, public institutions and offices are not open for business on Good Friday. Nonetheless, there are a number of activities you can indulge in for a memorable day.
How Good Friday in Singapore is Celebrated
Good Friday celebrations usually start with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is a Christina feast that falls on the Sunday before Good Friday. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. During Palm Sunday, thousands of local palm leaves are folded to form the shape of the cross. They are then paraded during the church services. The Palm Sunday celebrations vary across different churches. Nonetheless, it usually features the waving of palm leaves, just as the Israelites did over 2000 years ago to welcome Jesus in Jerusalem.
On the Friday following the Palm Sunday, churches will host another service to mark the crucifixion of Jesus. On Easter Sunday, most of the churches will take the opportunity to baptize converts. Baptism features the rising out of the water to symbolize “a new life”. This is to signify the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the cross, which is also why most churches in Singapore like to conduct the baptism on Easter Sundays.
Throughout the celebrations of Good Friday in Singapore, Christians will gather with their friends and family members for a meal. According to Christians, Jesus is the Lamb of God who gave his life for their sins. As such, lamb is always the main dish during these meals. It is also common for friends and families to share foods such as spiced bread baked in the shape of a cross, chocolate rabbits, chocolate eggs, jelly beans, and Easter candies.
What to do during Good Friday in Singapore
Though Easter is predominantly a Christian celebration, it is a public holiday in Singapore. This means that most people will be at home. Offices, banks, government institutions, schools, and some shops don’t open as people take time off to rest for the long weekend. If you don’t subscribe to the Christian faith, however, this may be a time to try something different. Here is a look at some of the things you can do during in Singapore during Easter holidays-:
Attend Easter Day Culinary Workshop
On Good Friday, Singapore Botanic Garden usually holds a special culinary workshop where kids get to have the chance to learn about Coca-Cola and the making of chocolate bunnies. It is definitely a great workshop for children to spend their Good Friday meaningfully.
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter egg hunt is predominantly a British practice, but it is soon gathering momentum in Singapore. Hiding colorful little eggs in the garden, and letting the kids to hunt for them. Whoever finds the highest number of eggs is the winner and will receive a present. Such simple game can eventually bring happiness to the kids, and is also an activity that adults can join and have great fun with.
Party at Singapore Polo Club
If you prefer a family-friendly party for Good Friday in Singapore, then Singapore Polo Club would be an ideal destination. The club usually holds Easter parties featuring lots of games and fun activities that both kids and adults will enjoy taking part in.