Friday is a state and federal holiday, but that’s not the case in much of the Asia Pacific. One place in the region where Christmas is celebrated with enthusiasm is the small, multi-ethnic country of Singapore.
Anyone feeling the need for late-season Christmas ornaments would have the choice of a large selection in Singapore.
That’s one legacy of the city’s 144 years as a British colony.
But Singapore’s multi-cultural and multi-ethnic history and population mean that religion aside, many people join in with celebrations of various holidays throughout the year.
Singapore’s list of national holidays includes dates of religious significance celebrated by Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists.
Christmas trees and other decorations are common sights around the city.
And while it’s definitely more subdued than the Christmas celebrations of say, the Philippines, colorful lights are strung along the main shopping streets of Singapore — including Orchard Road.
Despite concerns about COVID-19 and the threat of the Omicron variant, the Straits Times reports shopping malls and other retailers have been having a relatively strong holiday shopping season.
While there is caution about the virus, there is also some level of preparation.
The utilization rate of intensive care units at hospitals is about 53% — leaving room for surge capacity if needed.
Government officials say 87% of the total population is fully vaccinated — and 35% have received booster shots.
