Every year, Singapore celebrates its birthday on August 9th! The day is filled with people taking time off of work to enjoy activities across the country as well as a huge firework celebration. Many vendors also have special discounts for the national holiday and the city is decorated for weeks, even months!
Singapore became its own country on August 9, 1965, making it a fairly new nation in comparison to other countries today. This day is not framed like how July 4th is here in the United States, as they did not fight wars for their rights. Rather, Malaysia expelled Singapore after years of political and economic tensions. That's why this day is framed as a birthday rather than an Independence Day.
Almost all countries have their own forms of Independence Day or National Day to instill pride among their citizens. This celebration showcases the country's history as well as the progress it hopes to make in the future. Singapore has many unique cultural elements that it tries to maintain and showcase during this holiday. The citizens want to show that while the country is small, it is a mighty and proud nation.
