National days in August 2023

When is Singapore National Day?

The National Day of Singapore is a public holiday, celebrated on August 9th each year. If August 9th falls on a weekend, then a public holiday will be observed on the following Monday.

It marks Singapore's sovereignty, which was gained on this day in 1965.

History of Singapore National Day

Singapore declared independence from Britain in August 1963. It joined the Federation of Malaysia in September 1963 after the 1962 Merger Referendum of Singapore.

Singapore left the federation two years later and gained its own sovereignty on August 9th 1965 when Yusof bin Ishak was sworn in as the first President of Singapore.

How is Singapore National Day celebrated?

Singaporeans begin celebrations during the last weeks of July and they will continue throughout August. These celebrations will include concerts, carnivals, and many other festivities.

The largest event among the celebrations is the annual National Day Parade. The parade is held in Singapore’s National Stadium in front of 60,000 people and is nationally televised.

The parade features performances from military and school bands, a 400-piece drum ensemble, solo vocalists, professional dance routines, and displays by the Singapore Armed forces, which include free-fall parachute displays, tower repelling, vehicle shows, a presidential gun salute and a national flag fly-by.

Did you know?

Three facts about National Day

The Singapore Botanic Gardens contains the largest tropical orchid garden in the world.

Singapore was named Singapura, which means 'Lion City' in Sanskrit, by Sang Nila Utama, a Sumatran Prince after he thought he saw a lion on the island, though it was more likely to have been a tiger.

Singapore is the world's largest exporter of exotic aquarium fish.

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